Workers will be working over Easter weekend to level and overhaul the ground at Vancouver’s only authorized homeless encampment. The Park Board is refusing to disclose the items found during the cleanup. CRAB Park has uncovered.
Recent heavy rainfall has worsened the already poor soil conditions, leading to an extension of repairs into early April to address serious health and safety concerns.
City councillor Peter Meiszner with ABC Vancouver mentioned in an interview on Friday that the entrenched encampment had created a large network of rat tunnels underground.
He also noted that the soil contains biohazard fecal matter due to people using the site as a bathroom.
Although there was a one-day delay for some residents to move into temporary sheltering, the city has made significant progress in dismantling unsafe structures and removing debris.
According to Meiszner, there are items such as bicycles and propane tanks in the encampment, which were seen during the mayor's site tour.
The city has not provided a detailed list of findings, stating that this information will be shared with encampment residents first.
A statement attributed to the Park Board mentioned that a summary of the material removed will be shared with the encampment residents before being made public.
Jeremy Omand of the Gastown Residents Association stated in an interview that people deserve to know what is happening and what is being found in the area.
Residents of Gastown, Crosstown, Chinatown, and Downtown Eastside have been impacted by the CRAB Park encampment for nearly three years.
Omand mentioned that criminal activity in the area has caused some people to be afraid of visiting the main public green space.
Omand cited a murder that occurred at the beach where a man was fatally stabbed in May 2022.
He also shared incidents of community members being assaulted and threatened while walking through the park, including a 70-year-old man who was assaulted and had rocks thrown at him.
Taxpayers who have been covering the costs of the CRAB Park encampment since May 2021 are now funding the cleanup.
In February 2023, Global News requested the total costs related to the CRAB Park encampment from the city of Vancouver, including expenses for policing, fire services, Park Board, bylaw enforcement, engineering, sanitation, and garbage removal.
Although the Park Board has previously provided cost numbers for other encampments, the city stated that a Freedom of Information request would be required to obtain the same data for CRAB Park.
Meiszner acknowledged the taxpayers' right to know the costs and stated that the information would be released as soon as possible.
Meiszner stated that he understands that a list of items found at the site during the cleanup will also be made public.
People from the specified area who moved within the park are anticipated to be able to return to the revitalized waterfront area, which will have a gravel surface, as soon as April 4.
“We have empathy for the individuals living here and we hope that the government can find them homes,” Omand expressed.
However, Omand expressed that residents of nearby neighborhoods deserve to have a park for recreational use.
“I’d like to see the park restored to its original state,” he informed Global News.
Meiszner mentioned that CRAB Park presents a unique situation due to the court order allowing camping in the specified area, and the city council with an ABC majority views encampments as an inadequate solution to homelessness.
“We aim to transition people into shelter and permanent housing.”
