Oregon Parks & Recreation Invites Public Comment On Brookings Beach Camping Ban

BROOKINGS, Ore. — Concerns over homeless encampments on the beach are driving a movement to ban beach camping in Brookings, similar to bans imposed in two counties and 8 cities on the Oregon coast.

As a result, the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission is currently considering banning oceanshore camping in the Curry County city.

Community Files Petition To Ban Beach Camping In Brookings

The Macklyn Cove Condominium Association has filed a petition detailing resident’s complaints against homeless beach campers. Matilda Tuffey, a Brookings resident, has also written a public comment in favor of the ban.

Tuffey remarked that she and others are tired of cleaning up after homeless campers. All sorts of things were found by them during clean-ups on the beach, including, tents, garbage, and drug paraphernalia.

It took five residents to drag out what the homeless community left in the bushes, divide it, place it in black bags, and drag it to the beach for removal.

The petition also confirms that public restrooms near the city’s Mill Beach have been closed for years and photographic evidence of a camper defecating on the shore was provided.

Lack Of Space Limits Options For Homeless People

The executive director of the nonprofit Brookings CORE Response, Diana Carter, noted that the only homeless shelter in the county- which her organization supports, is at maximum capacity. Carter said there have been several previous attempts to remove the homeless from public areas in Brookings.

Since 2009, Brookings’ city council has considered banning camping on Mill Beach three times. Camping in neighborhoods, several parks, and public properties was banned by a city ordinance passed earlier this year. Carter said to deal with problems like crime and litter, chasing campers from the shore, one of their last spaces in the city is a bad strategy.

Carter says corralling homeless people into smaller and smaller spaces will result in more criminal activity and interpersonal violence. The things they are trying to mitigate will escalate.

She would prefer to see enforcement of existing laws, like those against littering, rather than widespread bans on a population with few places left to go. She said, “We need to invest in resources here in our community,” but noted that the community doesn’t have a good history of this.

Tuffey indicated in her complaint that while at first, she felt sympathy for the growing homeless population using the city’s beaches, her and other resident’s patience has worn out. They feel like it’s a constant battle.

Public Comments Invited On Brookings Beach Ban

The Oregon State Parks & Recreation Commission has opened public comments on the proposed camping ban which will be open through October 15. A public hearing has also been scheduled at the Southwestern Oregon Community College in Brookings on Oct. 9. The commission will consider adopting the rule at a meeting later in the year.