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Seattle Debates Camping In Parks, But Which Ones Are 'Suitable?'

Monica Spain
/
knkx

Legislation before the Seattle City Council has some people worried that city parks could turn into campgrounds for people without permanent housing. Councilmembers have received thousands of emails expressing concern that homeless encampments and neighborhood recreation don’t mix.

When you talk to parents in most Seattle neighborhoods, they know they’ve got it pretty good. And many will tell you they’re genuinely concerned about the plight of homeless families. But the proposed law aimed at protecting the homeless, has brought people like Rosie Donovan to the edge of patience. If passed, it would effectively make encampments legal in Woodland Park, where she takes her kids every day.

“I don’t think that’s it’s highest and best use. I think that the park is really active, and I’m concerned about how they would keep it clean, how they would take care of it, how they would keep people safe,” said Donovan.

But we’re not just talking about parks: Any public property in Seattle that’s deemed safe or suitable for camping could wind up hosting a cluster of tents. What’s “safe” or “suitable,” though is up for debate.

Councilman Mike O’Brien says schools and sidewalks in front of homes and would be considered “unsuitable.” But when he gives the example of Woodland Park, things get complicated. The sports fields would be off limits, but other areas nearby might be OK.

“Woodland Park also has some kind of undeveloped forested areas where there are people camping in there today, and that would probably be one of the areas that would not be on the “unsuitable” list.”

How long campers could remain in the park is still a question. There’s a detailed process that would need to be followed before campers could be evicted, which in part, depends upon finding permanent shelter. Tim Burgess, the only councilmember who is vocal in his opposition, says Portland tried this approach and then quickly backed away from it and federal guidelines also discourage this type of policy.

Seattle lawmakers have just another week to mull over the details. A final vote is expected by the end of the month.