Fort Myers continues to fence in Centennial Park, looks for homeless to leave on own terms

The City of Fort Myers added more fencing at Centennial Park, as it continues to prepare the park for a year of renovations.

We’ve continued to report the impact this this will have on many people experiencing homelessness in the community, who are now struggling to find another place to call home.

With lot of questions left to answer, there are two things we know for sure: People can still walk in and live under this pavilion, where many people said they have stayed the last couple year. But the number of people doing that has decreased significantly.

The city originally planned for everyone to be gone from the pavilion days ago, so crews could start renovations to the park.

“We’ve been telling them, and cops have been telling them, for a week now, that they were supposed to be out by Sunday,” said Kat Duestershaus, a community activist. “So we have more questions than answers at this time.”

We spoke to Mayor Randy Henderson, who agreed and acknowledged people living at the pavilion were supposed to be out Sunday. But he said it’s also part of the city’s strategy to let those folks leave on their own terms.

“There’s been a determined and intentional slowdown of putting up the fence in order to avoid literally having to chase them away from the park,” Henderson said. “We don’t want to lay hands on any human being and escort them away. We want them to go on their own free will to a place where they feel safe.”

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