Seattle's Cal Anderson Park officially reopens to the public following encampment sweep

Seattle's Parks and Recreation (SPR) announced Wednesday it officially reopened Capitol Hill's Cal Anderson Park to the public after a closure of nearly six months.

Following a homeless encampment sweep last Friday that went against guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and resulted in 24 arrests, SPR said it removed 100 tons of debris such as pallets and furniture from the park and did the necessary maintenance services to allow for reopening.

Now, the city says it is hoping to "create a safe and welcoming environment" in the park while also including new signage that says "NO CAMPING." Other signs offer hygiene and shelter resources for those experiencing homelessness.

"Cal Anderson Park has been an epicenter for activism and social justice movements for decades and is the heart of the Capitol Hill community. As we move into 2021, Cal Anderson will continue to be a hub for the entire community —neighbors and park visitors alike," said Mayor Jenny Durkan in a statement. "As we reopen the park, the community and the City will continue its ongoing conversation to provide services to those who are unhoused, create new ongoing activities to support diverse community needs, increase safety, and restore the vibrancy and inclusivity of the Capitol Hill neighborhood."

Repair work is still ongoing at the restroom facility and shelter house within the park.

The park officially closed on June 30 after it became the center of protests in the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone during the summer. At the time, the city said the closure was to "allow City crews to assess damage and clean up areas that have seen significant waste collection."

However, many noted that the park was never really closed, as residents were still able to access Bobby Morris Playfield and many were even seen recreating on the field with their dogs in the days before the sweep.

In October, neighborhood groups and business leaders around Seattle penned a letter asking city officials to address the "spiraling public health and public safety crisis" in the city's parks. Cal Anderson was one of the parks identified in the letter which included signatures from the Downtown Seattle Association, Cal Anderson Park Alliance and Seattle Central College.

The city's response to the letter was to launch a "Clean Cities Initiative" that would provide a "surge of cleaning efforts" in Seattle neighborhoods and parks. However, that effort was not meant to remove homeless encampments from these public spaces.

SPR says it is planning "more activities, maintenance, and services" for the park this week and into 2021 while also continuing outreach through providers like  REACH, Urban League and LEAD for those experiencing homelessness.

"The reopening of Cal Anderson Park restores essential open space in this dense and vibrant neighborhood," said Superintendent Jesús Aguirre.