Since the city’s homeless center started full time respite on 9/29/22, nearby residents have noted more issues. There are encampments, trash, and safety concerns due to illicit activity in the park. Neighbors on Nextdoor are posting photos of growing areas of trash, and city’s 311 is being contacted with requests to keep the park clean and safe. Open air drug use is occurring near the playground in encampments visible from neighbors on Auburn blvd. Other camps buried deeper in the natural habitat areas are growing and there are reports of the park becoming a hangout for meeting up to commit lewd acts nightly as well as drug dealing of methamphetamines.

Will city police or park rangers patrol the park at night or will 311 come clean up the abandoned trash, furniture and camp refuse?

We will keep you posted…

Please see one letter of concern that was sent to the City. We obtained this letter directly from the neighbor and are posting below, with their permission. (Name withheld for privacy)

Hi.

After attempting to walk and enjoy the trail at Del Paso Park as my family has for years, today, we had to cut it short. Between the trail and Auburn Blvd, an unhoused person is camping. He has been accumulating things and his campsite growing over the week. Today, 1:30 in the afternoon, this particular unhoused person was lighting up his pipe with a mini blowtorch lighter. It was not tobacco or marijuana. You can see him lighting his pipe in the photo - he's sitting by a bike to the left of the blue tarp structure. Fear of confrontation and risk to our safety prevented us from getting a better photo. 

On the other side, the few tents have grown in numbers and are spreading out. During the week, we saw unhoused people toting supplies, including a large water cooler, into the park where there are now several tents.

This illegal camping and drug use is located between our house and the playground. We would regularly walk the trails and take our toddler to the park.  It was a nice park. 

It's not a solution to open a shelter that won't/can't be used by the unhoused, who didn't use to be in our community and are now here.  It's just creating more problems, issues, and threats.

Please enforce the ordinances to keep the park safe and usable for those of us who live, work, vote, pay taxes here. Why are these crimes being tolerated and allowed to continue? 

If the City could be more diligent, maintaining the park and being a "good neighbor," then the community surrounding the shelter on Auburn Blvd could be better received by the residents here. However, due to the history at this location, the long term residents knew the City wouldn't be diligent and foretold the events now occurring. 

Thank you,

(Concerned family living near the park)