Powderhorn Park Encampments Transition Media Statement

Friday July 31, 2020 – statement for Media inquiries

Notices of Transition being served today at Powderhorn Park encampments

Notices of Transition were served this afternoon to those living in the west encampment and elsewhere in Powderhorn Park. The notices inform occupants they will not be able to stay in the park. This transition is the result of significant on-going crime and safety concerns and the encampment’s location within a safe school zone prohibits it from being one of 20 park Refuge Sites per Resolution 2020-267 adopted by the Board of Commissioners on July 15.

The Notice of Transition does not set a deadline for complete removal of the estimated 65 tents that remain in the park (down from 560 tents July 9). The MPRB wants to encourage, through transition and the collaboration of supportive partners, an incremental removal of the any encampments at Powderhorn Park, and only engage Park Police to support other’s work and/or when it has been demonstrated through repeated instances of engagement that other methods of vacating the encampments have failed.

The MPRB coordinated delivery of the notices with MADD Dads. The Notice of Transition was delivered with materials describing relocation options and other materials to assist the individual in determining their move.

The MPRB will continue to provide portable restrooms and hand washing stations until the encampments are vacated. The MPRB will coordinate supportive partners to engage and communicate options with encampment occupants. Original organizers have retreated from the west encampment, as have medical personnel with the exception, perhaps occasionally, of a single volunteer providing some level of medical services.

Starting Monday, August 3, the MPRB will provide transportation to available shelters and other available park encampments.

“As a park and recreation agency, the MPRB is doing tremendous work to provide temporary places for hundreds of unsheltered people. We could not have predicted an international pandemic nor the impact it would have on the homeless population or the park system, but the work we are currently doing to support people experiencing homelessness is well outside our role,” said Superintendent Al Bangoura. “We will continue to implement the guidelines outlined in Resolution 2020-267 and work with partner agencies toward moving encampment occupants into shelter and housing suitable for winter conditions.”