Halifax Regional Municipality says residents who live in or shelter in a city park have 12 days to leave the park.
In a release on Tuesday morning, the municipality said Meagher Park – also known as People’s Park – will be closed “for reconstruction work” as of noon on Tuesday. Those seeking asylum there will have a “transition period” until July 17 to relocate.
“The health and safety situation at the park has continued to deteriorate in recent months, placing shelters at this location in an increasingly vulnerable position,” read the release.
Calista Hills, a volunteer at People’s Park, said she was disappointed, but not surprised.
The people living in the park are “very shocked and just trying to take it all in,” Hills said.
“(They) are worrying about where they’re going to end up in the next few weeks if they don’t find another solid alternative.”
The news comes just weeks after the regional council approved four municipal parks as areas where people can experience homelessness.
one june 14 Employees report from Parks and Recreation Said the city is “in a housing and homeless crisis.”
Max Chauvin, special projects manager for Parks and Recreation, told councilors that the number of people signing up with the municipality in search of housing had increased by 12.6 percent between April 19 and May 31. Marginalized communities and those in former youth care, including those from Indigenous backgrounds, are over-represented in numbers.
Designated areas are Green Road Park and Gerry Street Green Space in Dartmouth, as well as Barrington Street Green Space and Lower Flynn Park in Halifax. More than 30 people can “sleep in the community” with the scheme, the report said.
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Meagher Park was not on the list.
Dalhousie University Legal Aid posted a “Notice to Vacate/Leave” on Twitter that was allegedly given to the occupants of the park.
In part, the notice reads: “No public entry or use shall be permitted in the Park after 12:00 noon on the 5th day of July, 2022. The construction of anything in it for the purpose of temporary or permanent residence includes maintenance or maintenance.
It also states that the municipality “instructs any person erecting or placing in Meagher Park … to remove that shelter, including tents, and all personal belongings.”
Failure to comply with instructions from the notice is “an offence,” the city said in the notice. Consequences can include fines and removal of property by peace officers.
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In the summer of 2021, park evictions turned violent near the old Spring Garden Road Memorial Library.
Halifax Regional Police Officer on August 17, 2021 Pepper spray on the crowd of people protesting Forcible removal of a cantonment used by people without homes. Police began destroying tents and temporary shelters, asking the occupants to vacate the park immediately.
They faced the ire of a large group of people in the area, and a protective wall was erected in front of the distressed shelters. Police officers eventually forcibly broke down the wall and made arrests.
Mayor Mike Savage said Tuesday that the city would ensure the evictions do not turn violent again.
“We don’t give instructions to the police, I can tell you no one wants the police to go short of there,” Savage said.
“That is not our goal. Our goal is to move people in a way that suits their needs as well as everyone else.”
The city said Meagher Park is now filled with mud and has a large population of rats, making it unsafe for any use.
Savage said the four designated park sites have some amenities that are not in Meagher Park, such as portable toilets and trash cans. Potable water, storage boxes and needle boxes are being added.
“They will have more than Meagher Park,” Savage said.
In the municipal release to the public, it is stated that many people living in Meagher Park have accepted accommodation from service providers. These include street outreach navigators and housing support workers.
“Municipal staff visited the park today to offer asylum seekers in the park information on the resources currently available, advise them when the park is being closed, and explain the transition period so that they can Don’t have to leave the park immediately,” read the release.
“The municipality’s priority has been, and continues to be, to treat those experiencing homelessness with respect and to find ways to provide assistance to them within the capacity and scope of our organization.”
The municipality said that once the park is vacated, it will be completely closed for reconstruction work “to return the park to its original condition”.
—With files from Callum Smith, Rebecca Lau, Aya al-Hakim.
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