Park board releases new plan to relocate Oppenheimer Park campers

The Vancouver Park Board is moving ahead on a plan it hopes will result indozens of homeless campers voluntarily leavingOppenheimer Park.

The plan also includes obtaining an injunction to stop people from camping there.

In a statement, the park board says it is hiringan outside agencyto assess the park and make recommendations forsafety, support and shelter alternatives for campers.

"We would like to work with a third party, not-for-profit group to help us facilitate conversations with all the campers as a collective issue," said park board manager Malcolm Bromleyat Tuesdaymorning's city council meeting.

"Ourhousing staff does an excellent job working with people in the camp to find suitable housing, but what we'd like to do is work with somebody from the Downtown Eastsidewho can provide some facilitatedconversations with the campers as a whole."

Bromley says the park board will also revise the current "no camping" bylaw to bring it up to the current legal precedentwhich says sheltering overnight in a park should be allowed ifno other housing alternatives are available.

According to a park board spokesperson, the new bylaw will be an attempt to "provide a balancebetween providing access to parks for all in the community andthe rights of all people to shelter."

According to the statement, Bromley will seek an injunctiononcenew bylaws are in place which could allow for homeless camping incertain parks with adjacent resources.

The safety of Oppenheimer campers has been an ongoing issue, most recentlyin the newsbecause of the colder weather.

"We are very concerned with people taking warmth into their own hands and bringing in things like propane heaters which can be very unsafe in a confined area, very unsafe in a tent," said chair Stuart Mackinnon.