Glenwood homeless camp cleaned up thanks to new owner: Springfield
By Meghan KalksteinGLENWOOD, Ore. - A busy homeless camp is cleaned up thanks to a new owner: the City of Springfield. The Glenwood Bridge was once a very popular sign for homeless campers, and you can still see some of the signs of a camp there. However, Springfield police officers say since the city incorporated this bridge into city limits, the problem has otherwise disappeared. "The area down here was a disaster area," said Springfield Police Chief Jerry Smith. Chief Smith said there was trash, drinking, illegal campers, folks using the river as their restroom and panhandlers who intimidated people. Howver, the area was under the Lane County Sheriff and Oregon State Police jurisdiction, outside the Eugene and Springfield city limits. By incorporating it into the city, Springfield can now enforce their laws. "We came down here and said it's now in the city. You can't camp here, you can't drink in public, we're not going to allow you to intimidate motorists, so they just left," said the chief. To be fair, police handed out a list of resources to help folks in need. Now neighbors say the campers moved into their backyards. "Where did they expect them to go?" asked neighbor Terri Adams. "They came into Glenwood where there is really just the Sheriff and occasionally the police but very rarely." Adams said it has quieted down since railroad workers showed up, but still she wonders where these folks will go next. "I feel sorry for the people, I really do. I've always felt sorry for them because they really don't have any where to go," Adams said. Police said they've made a couple arrests since incorporating the bridge, but it's otherwise been very quiet. |
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October 7, 2008
- Eugene, Oregon
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