Homeless Encampment - Willard Park
Hi folks,
Willard Park is generally the closest public playground for us, but I'm starting to grow more concerned over the homeless encampment there. Originally it was 1 group, but recently has expanded to 3.
Is there a City body in charge of this type of stuff? Trash, drug use, etc. all going on within steps of small toddlers and babies playing - seems like these things should be separated by a much greater distance.
Anyone have thoughts to share on who to call or how to request some kind of improvement here?
Thanks all.
May 17, 2024
Parent Replies
Call your councilmember.
My kids are older now, but Willard park was that way 10 years ago. I consistently went there with my children anyways and just kept them in the enclosed playground area. There's always been a lot of homeless encampments in that park, nothing new.
Take pictures. Report to 311 and your council member. Rashi is mine and was pretty unhelpful the last time we had a homeless person setting up camp on the right of way in front of people's houses.
You can contact 311 via phone or, much more quickly, SeeClickFix to report camping, trash, etc.
I've lived in the neighborhood for years and I used to take my kids to Willard Park every day, and later they went to Willard Middle School. Yes, there have almost always been people camped out in Willard Park, but it waxes and wanes. Once, before the tot lot was built, there were a few playground structures including a climb-through tunnel for kids. I discovered that people were sleeping off hangovers in there when my toddler came to tell me he couldn't get through because there was a man in there! A few years ago middle school girls were getting harassed when they walked through the park on their way home from school. It will start out with just one or two campers, and pretty soon word spreads and there is a whole slew of people living there. Then people complain to the city, it eventually gets cleared out and it's better for a while, and then it all starts over again. Sigh.
I recommend contacting your councilmember by email so there's a record. And CC council [at] berkeleyca.gov (council[at]berkeleyca[dot]gov) which goes to the rest of the council, the mayor, and the city clerk. Write what you've written here. If others are having this experience too, it really does help to complain.
I work for the City of Berkeley and you'd want to contact Neighborhood Services. This division is part of the City Manager's Office. Peter Radu is the lead here for the Homeless Response Team.
Website:
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/about-us/departments/city-managers-office
Phone number is 510.981.7000. Also, please contact your councilmember. If you don't know who your councilmember is, please enter your address at this website:
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/council-district-lookup
Yes, you can always send an email to council [at] berkeleca.gov (council[at]berkeleyca[dot]gov) and it'll be part of the public record, but I'd recommend first off dealing directly with your councilmember. So please contact Peter Radu and your coucilmember.