Coronado Park in Albuquerque, formerly home to a large unsanctioned homeless encampment, is officially closed.
Now city officials are trying to figure out what’s next. Not only does the park have to be restored, but finding a workable solution to the homeless crisis remains a priority.
“In June we shared that we were evaluating all of our homeless policies,” Mayor Tim Keller said, according to KOB4 News. “As part of this, in July, we stated that we have to close Coronado Park. Throughout the next few months, we’ll continue taking our all-of-the-above approach to help our city cope with these issues.”
According to city officials, there were about 40 people remaining in the park when a cleanup began. As they were being removed, fencing and signs announcing the closing were erected. Keller said the closure was necessary to end seven years of crime and health risks associated with the homeless encampment that had overtaken the park.
“We all have to take advantage of a restart, and we all have to be part of the solution to providing that restart,” Keller said, according to KOB4 News. “That means the homeless themselves. That means every provider involved, and that means everyone complaining about this on social media. We’ve all got a role to play, and it is not to just complain about the problem.”
According to the KOB4 report, crews clearing the park informed those living in the park of their options, which included going to the city’s opportunity center, aqcuiring hotel vouchers or employment. Keller said the city’s immediate plans are to restore the park and expand the nearby fire station’s campus to include a training center or affordable housing.
“On the front burner, which we do have funding for, is to frankly build some supportive housing here,” Keller told KOB4 News. “So we’ll look at all the options. Nothing is finalized, but we certainly have some front-runners. A lot of it is going to have to do with funding -- and so the timing is going to be based on a fundraising effort essentially by us to figure out what we can finance in this area.”
Restoration and protection of the park began immediately as crews being to strengthen the fence, cut down dead trees and increase patrols to make sure none of the former park residents return.