Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
La Crosse mayor defends fence-and-closure policy after public hearing as residents call for transparency and reopening
Summary
Mayor Shawndell Washington Spivey and Parks Director Jay Odegaard told the Park Commissioners a coordinated plan is nearing completion to reopen Burns and Cameron parks only after public‑safety issues are reduced; public commenters urged more transparency, immediate reopening and better outreach to unhoused residents.
Mayor Shawndell Washington Spivey and Parks Director Jay Odegaard defended the temporary closures and chain‑link fencing at Burns Park, Cameron Park, Copeland Park shelter and parts of Black River Beach at a Nov. 20 Board of Park Commissioners meeting, saying repeated safety incidents forced a tough choice between increased policing or temporary closure.
The mayor said the decision followed direct visits to the parks and consultations with police and outreach teams and that safety incidents — "needles, fights, open drug use, theft" and repeated shelter break‑ins — made reopening premature. "And until that happens, I just don't deem it to be safe to do that," Shawndell Washington Spivey said, describing the closures as part of a coordinated effort with Pathways Home, police and other partners.
Why it matters: the closures affect downtown green space, school recess access and neighborhood perception of La Crosse. Community members told the board the…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat