Durango residents can say goodbye to the peaceful drive up and down Cemetery Road when attending funerals, visiting loved ones’ memorials or when just seeking a resting moment. The City Council is seriously considering permitting the building of a permanent homeless tent camp below the cemetery adjacent to the cemetery entrance. It will be directly above Schneider Park and near the 9th Street bridge.
I can’t think of a worse place to put it. Instead of the lovely, open green space at the cemetery entrance, visitors will see a combination of fences, tents, buildings and camping vehicles. Camp residents will be walking up and down Cemetery Road day and night. Placing more homeless people permanently in the center of town will also have a significant negative impact on the nearby residents, merchants, parks and Animas River Trail walkers, not to mention tourists.
In the past we have experienced, or know of those who have experienced, residential property theft, harassment, threatening and shoplifting. We’ve seen people exposing themselves and urinating in public. These incidents have decreased since the camp relocated to Purple Cliffs.
Please share your thoughts with City Council before their meeting on Sept. 1, when this proposal will be discussed.
Linda HarrisDurango
