The City of Wichita has taken steps to clear a homeless encampment from a park in the Riverside neighborhood, shortly before a cleanup event takes place.

Notices were posted at Sim Park and homeless residents there were given until the end of the day Thursday, and the Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team has been working to move them to shelters and into services and programs.   The city has reported a number of complaints online and by phone about the encampment.

The city is working to enforce an illegal camping ordinance after the City Council voted to approve changes in December.  The changes provide for faster cleanup of camping sites on public property, and some penalties have been lowered, but some in the community feel the ordinance criminalizes homelessness.

A cleanup event is scheduled at Sim Park for Friday and for Monday, March 17th.

[ photo: KWCH ]