With no announcement and little fanfare, Justin Bieber performed a free acoustic set on Monday at a Los Angeles park often in local headlines for less cheery reasons.

In videos that surfaced online, four musicians flanked the global phenom, who wore a plain T-shirt and shorts as he sang hits including Daisies and Yukon. The low-key affair with a small crowd stood in stark contrast to Bieber’s recent blockbuster World Cup and Coachella performances.

Some online users expressed surprise at the venue choice. A spokesperson for Bieber could not be immediately reached for comment about what spurred the show.

MacArthur Park, located west of downtown Los Angeles, is often described in ominous terms. The area has been plagued by gang activity and rampant drug use. Homeless encampments have also cropped up around the park in recent years.

A jacaranda tree in MacArthur Park in May. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

Earlier this year, federal authorities condemned the park as an “open-air drug market” after arresting several individuals who they accused of trafficking meth and fentanyl on to its grounds.

The park also became a flashpoint in the Los Angeles mayoral race, with mayor Karen Bass’s challengers using it as a benchmark for her progress on public safety.

In June, Bass disavowed crime in the park, saying the Los Angeles police were employing every resource to curtail illicit activity. Bass said the state and county had a role to play in the solution. “They must increase funding for treatment facilities and recovery services to stop the revolving door between jail and our parks,” she said.

Bieber’s performance comes after Los Angeles district attorney Nathan Hochman hosted a picnic at the park, following up on an earlier pledge to make the park family-friendly.

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“He’s definitely on the invite list for next year’s Labor Day weekend picnic!” Hochman wrote on X of Bieber.

“Bieber in MacArthur park. That’s progress,” first assistant US attorney Bill Essayli posted on X. “Amazing what can happen when criminals and drug dealers are removed from public spaces.”