Vancouver rangers dismantle temporary structures at CRAB Park

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Vancouver park rangers dismantled tents located in a temporary area at CRAB Park on Monday, following an extensive cleanup of a nearby licensed homeless encampment earlier this month.

“Now that the relocation of intended users to the designated area of ​​CRAB Park has been completed, cleaned and repaired, the temporary refuge area on the south side of the park has been completed,” reads a notice from the park board from Vancouver issued Tuesday morning.

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Campers who had taken shelter on the park’s south hill were notified last week that the temporary camp was being closed and that they would have to dismantle their structures each morning, starting April 16, to comply with bylaws that dictate that they not Camping is allowed during the day. in parks.

According to advocate Fiona York, who was at the site on Tuesday morning, park rangers had told residents in the temporary area that they would be on site at 8am on April 16 to dismantle any remaining structures.

“Yesterday, they verbally and repeatedly told people they would come at 8,” York said, noting that it is check week and many residents were out picking up welfare checks on April 16 and were not on site. at that moment. “This morning they arrived at 7:30 and started tearing down tents. “Zero warning.”

Police also attended, but stood aside while park rangers worked in the temporary area.

York said at least one resident told him they had lost everything they owned after rangers packed it up. He could see other residents packing up and taking their belongings.

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It is unclear whether the belongings were thrown in the trash or sent to a warehouse to be claimed; York said some items were marked and labeled, while others were loaded into a garbage truck. She said rangers did not appear to listen or respond when they told residents they were returning to claim their belongings.

Many of the residents in the temporary area had remained at CRAB Park in hopes of moving to the authorized encampment, as designated residents in that encampment were moved inside and spaces were freed up.

According to the park board, of the 16 residents who had returned to the authorized campground, two were moved indoors.

“As people sheltering in the designated area move indoors, the park board will continue to gradually reduce the designated area until the entire area can return to normal park use,” the notice reads.

York argued that the dismantling of the temporary encampment on Tuesday was unfair, since many of those nearly 20 residents had filed appeals, hoping to be included as designated residents and allowed to remain in the authorized encampment.

He also noted that many of the city’s cold-weather shelters also closed as of April 15, leaving even fewer indoor spaces for the city’s homeless population.

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Last month, people camping at CRAB Park were ordered to move to a temporary area on the south hill while city crews remediated the original camp site, removing more than 200,000 pounds of debris, 20 propane tanks and and six generators. The area was then repaved with gravel before designated campers were allowed to return.

Designated residents, however, say the licensed camp has strict bans on heat sources and that no thermal tent had been provided.

The park board notice says residents are free to leave if they do not agree with the strict requirements that come with sheltering in the permitted campground. The park board maintains that rules are in place to “keep conditions…clean and safe and prevent growth.”

With files from Sarah Grochowski

[email protected]

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