How Safe Is Holyoke for Travel? (2023 Updated) ⋆ Travel Safe

With out Holyoke, Massachusetts, we would by no means have identified the game of volleyball or had so many paper choices.

This metropolis is an industrial legend and residential to a predominantly Hispanic/Latino inhabitants simply north of Springfield, Massachusetts.

A collection of canals that when fueled the paper mills nonetheless runs by way of the realm simply west of downtown, referred to as The Flats.

As soon as a technological marvel, the Hadley Falls Dam nonetheless churns water to at the present time.

That is really the second dam, the primary having lasted lower than six hours earlier than a dam catastrophe.

Whereas making its mark on the know-how and paper manufacturing world, Holyoke nonetheless had a sporting stride to make.

In 1895, the YMCA director sought a brand new sport that was extra appropriate for athletes who couldn’t deal with the tempo of basketball.

Thus, the Birthplace of Volleyball was born.

When the paper business died down, these empty mills nonetheless had the ability and simply wanted the ingenuity of entrepreneurs to fill the empty warehouses.

Should you’ve ever loved the scent of a Yankee Candle, you’ll be able to thank Holyoke.

Holyoke (“Holy-oak”) gives only a handful of inns alongside the busy I-91, with extra inns discovered on the identical interstate south of I-90 in Springfield.

That’s most likely for one of the best, as Holyoke faces some critical security issues for residents and guests.

Warnings & Risks in Holyoke

OVERALL RISK : MEDIUM

Holyoke persistently makes the checklist of essentially the most harmful cities in Massachusetts. Throughout the board, crime charges are a minimum of twice the nationwide common. We’re giving this a medium danger since you might find yourself in hassle if you do not know the place to go and the place to keep away from. Nevertheless, Holyoke would not maintain a candle (pun supposed) to a number of the extra harmful neighborhoods of Boston.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : LOW

Holyoke is on the heart of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, with routes going by way of the town, to Springfield, and all through the smaller cities on the north, west, and east sides. The southernmost route goes to the Connecticut border. Routes are repeatedly being revamped to make stops safer, however use this as a final resort. Taxis, rideshares, and rental vehicles can be found. The town additionally has a bikeshare program with different close by communities.

PICKPOCKETS RISK : MEDIUM

Simply 12 pickpockets had been reported in 2021, which looks like excellent news, however there is a increased danger of being robbed than disadvantaged of your valuables by manipulation. Protecting your valuables secure in Holyoke comes with a medium danger.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : MEDIUM

Whereas main steps have been taken to enhance the protection of the rattling, flooding will at all times be a difficulty in a metropolis alongside a river. Nor’easter and hurricane seasons cowl all months of the 12 months, with harsh winter climate frequent and spring bringing a danger of extreme thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes. The danger is medium, however all of the issues include loads of warnings and security guides that can assist you put together.

MUGGING RISK : MEDIUM

The theft danger is medium, with a charge over twice the nationwide common. Whereas barely lower than 20% of robberies occur person-to-person, that knowledge is from the tip of 2021, and a few jarring crimes occurred in 2022. Simply use distinctive situational consciousness to decrease your danger, and do not stroll round The Flats at evening.

TERRORISM RISK : LOW

It is a low danger, however America has seen too many Lone Wolf acts of home terrorism or hate crimes. In 2020, a Holyoke hospital obtained a white powder letter prompting an evacuation. It is sensible to deal with any metropolis with medium danger.

SCAMS RISK : LOW

Whereas most scams reported right here contain phishing emails and unsolicited texts, it is necessary to know the most typical scams in America earlier than you go to. Bank card skimmers have been discovered on Holyoke fuel pumps. The Holyoke Police Division (HPD) web site has a rip-off part with shiny purple lettering SCAM, main you to the web site to study extra about up to date dangers.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : LOW

Statistically, girls are about 5% extra prone to be the sufferer of a violent crime. The issues listed here are situational and in particular sizzling spots. There are specific elements of city to keep away from (extra on that later) to decrease the danger, however deal with Holyoke with a medium danger total to be secure.

TAP WATER RISK : MEDIUM

I will give this a uncommon medium danger, however let me clarify. First, the water high quality report is required by June of every 12 months. A report hasn’t been posted on-line since 2018. We will solely hope the precise report was mailed to clients, which is obligatory. Seasonal turnover in water, particularly within the fall, could cause discoloration points which the utility claims are innocent. Nevertheless, you need to observe @HolyokeWaterWorks on Fb to get up to date details about water points and high quality updates locally.

Most secure Locations to Go to in Holyoke

ExploreWesternMass.com is the official tourism website of the Larger Springfield Conference and Guests Bureau.

Holyoke is included, however you can even discover regional attraction choices.

ExploreHolyoke.com is a extra city-focused information with locations to eat, keep, and go to, together with the One hundred and fiftieth-anniversary celebration actions in 2023.

Movies for every year are produced beneath the heading “A Day within the Yoke.”

Historic guided or self-guided excursions can be found, and it’s sensible to take this tour in a gaggle for those who can – simply to be secure.

The tour consists of 18 stops from the factories on the canal to historic properties locally.

The Kids’s Museum at Holyoke is a secure place for households to discover their creativeness.

Completely different displays are geared towards kids of various ages, beginning at six months outdated.

The Curve Climber is without doubt one of the hottest displays, particularly when you’ve got youngsters who wish to climb timber.

Between that and the rooftop backyard, there are almost 20 displays to discover.

The museum is open all year long.

These are each set on the sting of Holyoke Heritage State Park alongside a downtown canal.

You’ll discover the customer heart right here, together with a preferred merry-go-round.

The Holyoke Merry-Go-Spherical is ADA-accessible and open year-round because it’s indoors.

Every horse has its personal story, which you’ll be able to learn on the Holyoke Merry-Go-Spherical web site.

Tickets are $3.50 per experience of 4 rides for $10 (a $4 financial savings for those who plan to experience it 4 instances).

The Worldwide Volleyball Corridor of Fame spikes the curiosity of sports activities followers, beginning with particulars of how the sport was created all the way in which to essentially the most present Corridor of Fame inductees.

This museum is on the identical location because the Kids’s Museum, although every attraction has its personal admission worth.

Wistariahurst is a cultural heart set within the residence of a silk magnate from the 1870s.

Docent-led residence and backyard excursions are scheduled all year long, however the heart is well-known for its occasions, live shows, and historic discussions.

Examine the web site for the upcoming schedule.

El Corazón de Holyoke is a brand new artwork show to elicit hope and inclusion in a post-pandemic world.

That is one among a number of artwork installations combined amongst artwork galleries within the metropolis.

The tourism division gives an important checklist of locations to go to.

Completely different artwork shows honor the combined races of the group, from Hispanic to Latino to Puerto Rican to African American.

The town has a brand new Puerto Rican Cultural Space alongside Most important Avenue between the I-391 underpass and Lyman Avenue.

Whereas this area is wealthy with native and state parks, Mount Tom State Reservation is in Holyoke, with sweeping views of the valley.

Every season is a brand new expertise, with summer season bringing hikers and anglers out and winter offering an ice rink and cross-country snowboarding trails.

Preserve your eye on the sky for hawks, as they’re usually seen right here.

Holyoke Mall is a standard American Mall off I-91 close to the Springfield metropolis border.

Locations to Keep away from in Holyoke

Gangs are liable for a lot of the crime in Holyoke, however there are particular sizzling spots for crime police focused in 2022 and into 2023.

It’s onerous to discover a number of the secure points of interest when it’s a must to drive by way of harmful neighborhoods.

Police say the downtown intersection of Appleton and Elm streets is without doubt one of the crime sizzling spots within the metropolis, with close by Chestnut Avenue and South Bridge Avenue in The Flats additionally making the checklist.

That first intersection is lower than half a mile from the Holyoke Heritage State Park with the museums and merry-go-round.

Whereas one would assume in the event that they aren’t in a gang, they aren’t in danger.

That’s good logic, however gangs are ruthless and relentless.

They don’t care who will get caught within the crossfire or witnesses terrible acts throughout their crime sprees.

For instance, a taking pictures on the Unicorn Bar downtown occurred at 9:00 pm in a crowd of individuals.

One focused individual was shot, and the shooter left proper after, however those that watched it occur are undoubtedly traumatized by the expertise.

It’s best to keep away from The Flats, particularly at evening, and use warning when visiting the primary points of interest downtown.

At all times drive with home windows rolled up and doorways locked.

Resorts or inns aren’t positioned in these areas, so that you gained’t have to fret about staying in a harmful a part of city.

NOTE:

Should you’re visiting right here for a visit to Mount Holyoke School, that establishment is in South Hadley, a a lot safer group 10 minutes northwest of Holyoke throughout the river.

Security Ideas for Touring to Holyoke

So… How Secure Is Holyoke Actually?

Holyoke is a good multicultural group with an unimaginable quantity of historical past.

It’s only a disgrace that gangs and drug sellers are inflicting so many points.

Police say that Holyoke and close by Chicopee crime charges are as much as 90% drug or gang-related.

The newest info reveals that 10 avenue gangs and 300 gang members terrorize completely different elements of these two communities.

In keeping with police knowledge, 75 % of violent crimes and 90 % of drug-related crimes in Chicopee and Holyoke are gang-related.

In Holyoke and Chicopee mixed, there are 10 avenue gangs and 300 gang members.

Even for those who don’t see the police, they may nonetheless be patrolling.

“We’ve one unmarked cruiser.

This manner, we’ve got a greater probability of pulling up on exercise happening, and this manner, the officers are out on the street in these most important areas,” Holyoke Police Captain Matthew Moriarty stated.

On the plus aspect, in 2022, a number of information experiences present dozens of offenders arrested in crime crackdowns and multi-jurisdictional initiatives.

Many American cities are coping with an Opioid Disaster that features medicine laced with fentanyl being unknowingly offered to people who find themselves addicted.

This will increase overdoses and associated deaths.

The newest developments embrace pharmaceuticals, like Xanax, being offered illegally and laced with a doubtlessly lethal dose of Fentanyl.

Dwelling in Holyoke is far riskier than visiting there.

Right here’s why:

• Violent crime charges are 2.4 instances increased than the nationwide common.
• 17% of violent crimes occur towards strangers.
• 19% of robberies are towards random individuals on the road.
• Whereas theft experiences are twice the nationwide common, the Holyoke crime knowledge reveals that charge has been minimize in half since 2013.

Though the town has fewer than 40,000 residents, use the identical security steps as for those who had been on the south aspect of Boston.

The danger of being against the law sufferer would almost definitely be tied to a random act of violence, not vacationers being particularly focused.

Close by Springfield is just barely statistically safer than Holyoke.

Should you’re fascinated by one of many safer communities on this area, take a look at our article “How Secure is Amherst for Journey?”

How Does Holyoke Evaluate?

Helpful Data

• Visas – The U.S. State Division requires all worldwide company to have a Visa or Visa Waiver, plus a passport that does not expire inside six months. The visa course of confronted main backlogs from 2020-2022, however new steps are being taken to hurry up vacationer visas. Regardless, begin the method early.
• Forex – Should you change forex in your house nation at your financial institution, you will pay decrease charges to change forex. The U.S. Greenback is the one forex accepted right here, even in such a various group. It’s best to keep away from carrying money with you as a lot as attainable, and do not use public ATMs. Bank cards supply one of the best fraud safety.
• Climate – 4 distinct seasons are present in Central Mass, and you need to put together for the worst of every. Meaning scorching sizzling summer season climate and bitterly chilly and snowy winter climate. Fall and spring could be delicate or snowy, so pack layers and take a look at the 10-day forecast earlier than you begin packing. You may need snow boots or climbing boots, relying on which era of 12 months you go to. Remember the bug spray.
• Airports – Bradley Worldwide Airport, north of Hartford, Connecticut, is the primary industrial airport for the Springfield, Massachusetts, area. That is about half-hour away from Holyoke. Should you’re flying out and in of Boston, plan for a minimum of 90 minutes on the street.
• Journey Insurance coverage – Journey insurance coverage will price 5-10% of the entire journey price, nevertheless it additionally covers bills and emergencies that would price much more in the long term. Purchase insurance coverage as quickly as attainable because the coverage goes into impact instantly. Meaning a full refund when you’ve got an emergency or sickness that forces you to cancel the journey.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Holyoke Climate Averages (Temperatures)

Common Excessive/Low Temperature