The North Park Neighbourhood Association says the number of tents in Central Park has doubled to more than 80 in just a week and it鈥檚 calling on the city to develop a plan that would see other neighbourhoods shoulder some of the load.
The association said in a statement that it鈥檚 prepared to accept a 鈥渄rastically reduced鈥� number of people without homes camping in either Central Park or Royal Athletic Park during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the community鈥檚 participation has to be part of a 鈥渄istributed approach that sees each neighbourhood accommodate a fair and equitable share.鈥�
The association has been tracking the number of tents in Central Park and said the numbers doubled after the city shut down an encampment in 颅Centennial Square due to 颅criminal activity.
Collin Spikes, one of the people camping in Central Park, said it鈥檚 no surprise that the numbers increased.
鈥淭he overabundance is because they closed Centennial,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey knew where they were going to move to. It was the closest location and bylaw [staff] all dropped them off right here.鈥�
Sarah Murray, the association鈥檚 executive director, said the result is an encampment that鈥檚 far more concentrated than anything in the much larger Beacon Hill Park, which has been the focus of criticism for months.
鈥淥bviously, this isn鈥檛 working,鈥� Murray said at Central Park on Tuesday. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e hearing it from the people who are living here, and you鈥檙e hearing it from the people who are living around here.
鈥淣o one鈥檚 happy with this. The folks who are here aren鈥檛 happy with having been dropped off by bylaw 20 feet from a 颅playground.鈥�
Victoria city council approved a series of bylaw changes last week that, once adopted, could reduce the number of tents in Central Park to 21 by limiting the size of structures to three metres square and requiring them to be at least four metres apart. In addition, council will consider another motion Thursday that asks staff to investigate options for limiting sheltering at Central Park and providing access to temporary shelters, showers and washrooms at Royal Athletic Park.
The association, however, is clear that it will accept sheltering at only one of the locations.
Sean Kahil, who lives across from Central Park and sits on the association鈥檚 board, said the neighbourhood wants assurances as well that others will be doing their part.
Murray added that the city should be looking at places other than parks 鈥� such as parking lots or parkades 鈥� in developing a model for dealing with the situation.