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Councilors press parks officials for clearer process on homeless encampments after Garfield Park cleanup
Summary
Councilors asked Indy Parks how encampments are identified, serviced and removed after a messy Garfield Park site prompted concerns; staff said Office of Public Health and Safety and IMPD coordinate outreach and removal when people decline services.
Councilors pressed Parks and Recreation officials on March 6 for clearer procedures after councilors and residents raised concerns about the time it took to clear homeless encampments and the condition of some parks, citing Garfield Park as an example.
Councilor Jared Evans asked staff to “talk me through the process” for responding to homeless camps. Director Boyd said the process usually involves coordination between the Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS), the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) and professional blended service organizations that engage people living in encampments. Boyd said outreach providers attempt engagement and that the timeline for moving people varies with each case.
Deputy Director Don Colvin said OPHS and IMPD’s homeless unit typically respond when a camp is reported and that professional service providers try to connect residents to services. “If someone is not willing to receive and reciprocate that help, then I think at that point we need to move to removal from the park immediately before it becomes a much more disastrous situation,” Boyd said.
Councilor Ms. Gary (recorded as Gary in the transcript) cited the city ordinance that prohibits overnight stays in parks and urged more immediate action, saying the ordinance means “if they're in here 1 night, they're out.” She also said service offers were refused in some cases and that the concentration of encampments is higher on the city’s southeast and southwest sides. Another councilor said Fountain Square currently has multiple tents and expressed concern that no enforcement was being recorded there.
Councilors acknowledged the complexity of the issue — balancing outreach and not criminalizing homelessness while addressing public-safety concerns. Several members asked staff to clarify roles among park rangers, code enforcement, OPHS and IMPD and to develop a process that prevents prolonged encampments and rapid deterioration of park conditions.
No formal policy changes or votes were taken at the meeting. Staff described the response as a coordinated effort that prioritizes outreach first and removal when individuals refuse services; councilors asked staff to revisit the process and report back with any proposals for speeding response times or clarifying interagency responsibilities.
