Better pack pepper spray in the next picnic basket.
Central Park has seen the highest spike in crime of any area in the city — surpassing even the roughest sections of Brooklyn for growth of robberies and thefts.
The storied green space has endured a 52.4 percent rise in felonies, compared to an increase of 15.54 percent in Coney Island’s 60th Precinct and 12 percent in the 77th Precinct in Crown Heights, according to NYPD statistics released this week.
A total of 64 felonies were committed as of Aug. 2 in Central Park Precinct, compared to 42 in the same period last year.
“Central Park, historically, is very low, and any increase produces higher percentages than a place with more crime,” said NYPD spokesman Paul Browne.
Grand larceny in the park skyrocketed 90 percent, with 42 incidents compared to just 22 during the first seven months last year.
Robbery is up 23 percent, with 16 incidents compared to 13 last year.
Overall, arrests in the park are up 3.8 percent compared to last year.
Robbery arrests are up 33.3 percent.
“I have seen police officers in areas that I have never even seen them before. That’s obviously a good thing because you need a uniformed presence. You have to nip it in the bud,” said Geoffrey Croft, president of NYC Park Advocates.