Minneapolis Removing Homeless Encampments With 'Documented Crime'

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board this week began removing encampments in the city's parks, including encampments that don't have proper city permits or ones with "documented crime."

This week, park officials served notices to vacate encampments at Peavey Park, Elliott Park, and at Kenwood.

Park officials said all three of those encampments had significant crime and safety incidents, including assaults.

On Tuesday, there were 35 rounds fired from multiple guns at Peavey Park, officials said, but no witnesses have come forward. There were no injuries were reported in the gunfire.

Peavey and Kenwood encampments are also located within safe school zones, which violates a resolution passed by the Park Board last month.

The Elliott Park and Kenwood Park encampments were cleared Wednesday.

"There are currently hundreds of unsheltered people in the park system, and the lack of shelter and housing options is having a devastating impact on those living in parks, the neighborhoods surrounding the parks, and our organization," Parks Superintendent Al Bangoura said in a statement.

"Park staff are committing significant time and resources to implement the directives of our Board and follow the executive orders of the Governor related to COVID-19 and unsheltered people."

In June, the Minneapolis Park Board passed a resolution allowing people with no permanent housing to stay in the city's parks.

Minneapolis subsequently saw a significant influx of people living in the parks. At its height, the two encampments at Powderhorn Park had a combined 560 tents.

As the encampments grew, so did reports of criminal activity.

In July, the board voted to restrict the number of homeless encampments in parks across the city. The resolution limits the number of parks with encampments to 20 and the number of tents per encampment to 25.

The resolution also established a new temporary encampment permit that can be issued to volunteers or groups who agree to be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of an encampment.

Park officials Wednesday reported that Powderhorn is now down to an estimated 35 tents, and those living there have been warned they cannot stay because of ongoing crime and the park is in a safe school zone.