Fences set to go up around Centennial Park prior to construction

Centennial Park was set to close Monday for renovations. Now, fences are going up and will leave homeless people displaced.

While the city knows people live there, they say it’s unfair to the taxpayers.

The fence only goes so far, which means the homeless people who live there may still be able to use the pavilion for shelter.

The City of Fort Myers never meant for the pavilion in Centennial Park to become a haven for the homeless, but that’s what it has become, especially after the pandemic began.

“Yes, we have homeless women with babies here now. Yes, that started to happen because of the COVID virus,” said Jasmine Miller, who lives in the park.

“They need to give an alternative before they have people leave this,” said Willie Joe, another homeless resident at the park.

It is unclear exactly when they’ll need to leave at this point, but the city says the homeless people who call Centennial Park home will have to leave so that renovation can begin.

“You have got to understand that this is a public amenity for the entire city, it was never meant to be a homeless shelter camp,” said Kevin Anderson, Fort Myers city councilman and candidate for mayor.

Anderson says he feels for the people who live there, but where will they go when they finish fencing the park in? “That’s the million-dollar question. You know most of the shelters in town are full.”

But, he says, there are still plenty of resources and people who are willing to help. County leaders agree, telling WINK News they offered 25 people space in a shelter, yet only two accepted.

If you ask the homeless folks in the park about those abundant resources that Anderson discussed, they’ll paint a very different picture. “People need a place to go, it’s a human need. They need food, you need shelter,” Willie Joe said. “Let’s stop this talking about it and let’s do it.”

A week ago, about 40 people called Centennial Park home. Now, that number has dwindled to 20 since rumors of the park closing began to circulate.

Current Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson said in a statement:

“Homelessness is one of the challenging issues of our day. Our city manager is working with the County Manager and Coalition for the Homeless. There are others involved, faith-based churches who have programs to help. It is quite complicated for sure. There is a movement afoot to assist the homeless in this situation. We all want it to happen sooner than later.”

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