Park Board not seeking injunction to remove tents at Oppenheimer Park

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The Vancouver Park Board says it won’t be trying to get an injunction as homeless campers remain in Oppenheimer Park, weeks after people living there were told to pack up and leave.

The board says if it moves in and forces people out, they’ll have to go elsewhere, so they can stay, at least for now.

RELATED: Tent city remains in Oppenheimer Park despite deadline to vacate

Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon says simply taking people out of the park doesn’t work as the individuals or camp would likely just move locations.

“Simply removing people from Oppenheimer Park, which may force them onto the streets, the back lanes, and into other parks, is not the solution,” he says. “I’m asking the federal government, the provincial government, and the city to declare this an emergency — a crisis.”

Stuart MacKinnon says simply taking people out of #Oppenheimer means they will be going elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/hO7eHOpVw9

— Tarrah Prasad (Harvey) (@TarrahHarvey) September 6, 2019

But businesses and people in the area have become increasingly concerned about the tents.

Park Board Commissioner John Coupar says it’s a pressing health and safety issue. He says the decision not to ask for an injunction is “the weakest response possible.”

In a statement, he says he and fellow NPA Commissioner Tricia Barker have been advocating for an injunction.

“I am particularly concerned that the Green-COPE alliance on Park Board have opted for the weakest of all possible responses to the Oppenheimer Park situation by doing nothing more than writing a letter to the City of Vancouver to encourage them to implement a comprehensive housing strategy,” he says in a press release.

RELATED: Shelter commits to adding beds for people evicted from Oppenheimer Park

“The Park Board has a fundamental duty to deliver great park and recreation experiences at every park in the city and ensure that all Vancouver parks are clean and safe, including Oppenheimer Park. The Downtown Eastside is particularly deficient in park space. Oppenheimer Park needs to be made safe and clean again for everyone to enjoy.”

The Park Board has jurisdiction over park lands in Vancouver, including the park, but Mayor Kennedy Stewart has suggested City Hall take jurisdiction over the park until a solution is found.

Stewart says it’s clear the Park Board hasn’t considered the request.

“While I have already made a personal request to Park Board Chair Mackinnon to consider this request seriously and urgently, I have reiterated this request in writing to him. I again urge the Park Board to help us move forward by meeting before September 16 and voting on my request.”