Point Pleasant? Popular park as a homeless encampment site faces scrutiny
Global News
Halifax approved nine designated homeless encampment sites at several parks in the city. The city's community safety director said the locations will act as a "pressure release."
Halifax has accepted city staff recommendations to designate nine new homeless encampment sites in several prominent parks throughout the region — with one being the city’s historic Point Pleasant Park, a largely forested area that is a popular attraction amongst locals and tourists.
In an emailed statement to Global News on Wednesday, a Halifax spokesperson said “the specific area of Point Pleasant Park for potential use as a designated location” is yet to be determined.
Jonathan Eayrs, a Halifax resident who was out enjoying Point Pleasant’s walking trails on Wednesday, said he doesn’t believe encampments are an effective way to address the ongoing housing crisis, and as a result, public spaces are paying the price.
“They need to look into the root causes of what the problems are,” he said, adding that he believes further resources need to be allocated toward improving public shelter environments. “There are reasons why they choose to be there, those need to be looked into.”
Eayrs said he doesn’t think encampments should be set up in public spaces like Point Pleasant Park.
“Let’s say, Victoria Park, for example, once there’s difficulties, they have to close it off and the net result is the public can’t use it. So, I see these encampments as basically a takeover of something that should belong to everyone,” he said. “When looking for housing, you usually talk about our own private spaces but not taking over public spaces.”
John Hamilton, also walking the trails, echoed a similar sentiment.
“I mean, this park is for the public’s enjoyment. It just seems like a bunch of band-aid solutions to something that needs a lot more than that right now,” he said, adding that he uses the park regularly. “Definitely shouldn’t be using a public park where people take their kids.”