AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics

[StoOgE]

I mean, if you grew up in Austin, I wonder what your experience in Republic Square park or Woolridge park was in the 90s and 00s? Because I remember both of those being basically completely unusable as park space.

As someone who frequents the greenbelts more than most there are a lot less homeless people living in them. On the downclimb from 90% of routes on the greenbelt you would see tents just out of site. You really don't anymore. The downtown parks were basically always encampments to the point that you couldn't use them at all. The first time in my entire life I went to woolridge park was like 2 years ago.

Right now the biggest issue seems to be the sidewalk on CC and the area of lady bird lake right behind it. Camping in parks is *still* illegal (and has been since forever) - anyone camping in a park is an enforcement issue.

I think the two large encampments on CC (the one at South Congress and the one on the East side) likely have both moved into the cities definition of "blocking the sidewalk" and either need to be removed or downsized considerably, but *most* of the camping seems to be under freeways which other than looking not great seems an improvement to all of the downtown parks being completely filled with people sleeping on the ground at night.

I just wish people who *don't* like the camping situation would be more honest that Austin's homeless situation was not suddenly created and no one ever camped in urban areas before the change from council. Like, if we go back to the way things were its not like there weren't homeless people downtown.