Park Petition Launched

The issue of homeless residents in Polson Park has led to an online petition, calling for changes.

Coldstream resident Michael Lorbetski has posted the petition on change.org, calling it Make Polson Park Safe Again.

It has so far collected over 500 names.

Lobetski questions why homeless tents are allowed near the boardwalk.

“It seems that everyday, if somebody isn’t calling 911 because of a shooting or an overdose, there’s people getting high in the toilet stalls central to the family-oriented area of the park.”

He recommends fencing off the boardwalk or moving the transients elsewhere.

“If local law enforcement doesn’t have the manpower to enforce the tear down from 9am-9pm bylaw because expired parking meter tickets bring the revenue, then I’d suggest perhaps one RCMP-assisted and homeless shelter bus sweep to transport them all north of London Drugs,” reads the petition.

The City of Vernon says under Charter rights, it has to allow the tents in public parks if local shelters are full.

The city has set a 9 pm to 9 am time limit for the tents, which will have to be taken down during the day.

A 21 year old man was injured after he was shot in the park last Thursday, an incident police believe was targeted.

No suspects have been arrested.

The park was closed for several hours during the incident which was focused on the area where the homeless camps are located.