SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The City of Chula Vista is moving forward with its plan to close Harborside Parktemporarily.
Wednesday, crews cleared a large homeless encampment from the site which the city says has become a safety hazard.
About twelve non-profits and agencies were on standby to offer services and resources to those in need.
"I've rescued several people out of this park," Joseph Rubio said. "I send them to detox. I get them into outpatient, I put them to work, and eventually, I get them housed."
Rubio is with the McAlister Institute, a substance abuse treatment program.
"You got a drug-infested park right next to a school... an elementary school. You don't know how many times I had to jump that fence to get needles off the playground. That's not right." Rubio said.
However, some people say they do not agree with the closure.
“We need real solutions to homelessness,” said homeless advocate Michael McConnell. “I’m tired of seeing people shuffled from one sidewalk to another without getting the help that they need.”
The Chula Vista City Council voted to shut down the park last week after receiving complaints from neighbors. People who live in the area say the park was unsafe due to drugs, violence, and lack of cleanliness. The park is expected to be closed for 90 days.
"To be able to save the park we have to be able to close it down and re-engineer the park and make it safer and better and have long-term sustainability for having it be a positive park,“ says council member John McCann.
But advocates believe the resources aren’t necessarily helpful.
“One shelter is here from El Cajon,” says McConnell. “They want people to go from Chula Vista to El Cajon. People have their support systems and structures here just like we all do in our communities. That doesn’t work for most people.”
An injunction was filed by advocates and some unsheltered residents to stop the closure but no order was made before the city moved in.
The city says after the park is cleared an 8-foot perimeter fence will be installed and security will be stationed at the park to ensure it remains safe.
