Call for night‑time lighting in Parc du Cinquantenaire

"Runnification" running community calls for the urgent installation of adequate night‑time lighting in Parc du Cinquantenaire, with particular attention to the running track that currently remains unlit despite being a heavily used public facility.

Safety concerns were acknowledged years ago, yet the park remains dark and unsafe for evening sport. This request is grounded in three fundamental principles:

1.       free access to sport

2.      public safety

3.       urban decorum with a deterrent effect against antisocial behaviour

1. Parc du Cinquantenaire is one of Brussels’ most iconic and accessible public spaces, used daily by thousands of residents for running, walking, and recreational sport. The absence of proper lighting on the running track effectively restricts access for anyone who trains before 8:00 or after 17:00 during winter months, which includes the vast majority of workers, students, and parents. This disproportionately affects women, shift workers, and people with limited financial means who rely on free public spaces rather than paid sports facilities. Ensuring lighting is therefore not a luxury but a matter of equal access to public infrastructure, fully aligned with Brussels’ commitments to health promotion and active mobility, as well as inclusive public space.

This issue extends far beyond the running community. It concerns thousands of regular users of Parc du Cinquantenaire, including families, children, walkers, runners, members of sports associations, as well as people practising outdoor sports such as football, basketball, fitness training and cycling. 

2. The lack of lighting creates zones of darkness that significantly increase the feeling of insecurity, particularly for women and vulnerable groups. Numerous associations report that members avoid the park after dusk, not because they do not wish to exercise, but because they do not feel safe doing so. Adequate lighting is one of the most effective, low‑cost measures to reduce harassment, accidents, and prevent antisocial behaviour.

3. Parc du Cinquantenaire is a major heritage site and a flagship public space for Brussels. Leaving large areas in darkness undermines the park’s aesthetic value and creates an environment conducive to vandalism and/or illicit activities. We need to increase the overall quality and dignity of the urban environment. Lighted spaces naturally attract more users, which in turn creates a self‑reinforcing deterrent effect.

Our Request

We urge the competent authorities to:

• Install adequate, energy‑efficient lighting along the running track and key pedestrian routes in Parc du Cinquantenaire.
• Engage with the signatory organisations to ensure that the lighting plan meets the needs of regular users, including runners, families, and vulnerable people.
• Implement the works within a reasonable timeframe to avoid restricted access and avoidable insecurity.

Giovanni D’Arezzo – "Runnification" founder