Signs stating “camping prohibited, vacate immediately” were posted by the city in June at several different locations, including park entrances on Landes Street, Kearney Street, Sims Way, and the parking lot across from Henery’s Hardware.

The signs indicated a 48-hour notice before all camping equipment and personal belongings would be removed and held for 60 days.

Per the city’s municipal code, it is illegal to camp in public parks within city limits. According to city officials, a number of community members have expressed concerns not only about the camping, but the activities occurring in the parks.

“This is obviously a sensitive issue and one we’re trying to get right,” city manager John Mauro said. “We’re trying to balance the rights and dignity of the unhoused with our responsibility to enforce existing laws.”

“What’s not on the sign is that we work extensively with service providers such as Believe in Recovery and the REAL (Recovery Empowerment Advocacy Linkage) team to help make the connection to services that some of our community may want or need,” Mauro added.

Neither the police department nor the parks department have a comment on the outcome of these notices at this time.