The City of Victoria has announced that temporary sheltering is being made available at Royal Athletic Park after recent adverse weather has closed Central Park.
Central Park – located next to the Crystal Pool along Quadra Street – has been damaged by a combination of recent heavy rain, snow and high sheltering activity.
As a result, the City of Victoria says that the park requires remediation.
According to the City of Victoria, the entire park is being closed on January 4, 2021, in order to assess the impacts and address any hazards.
The City notes that once this process is complete, the park will be re-opened for community use.
“Until additional indoor space is opened by BC Housing, the City is making the parking lot at Royal Athletic Park available for temporary sheltering,” reads a statement from the City of Victoria.
According to a written statement, BC Housing and the City are providing new tents and fresh bedding in the interim.
Warm and dry supplies are also being delivered to other parks, adds the City.
“This is a temporary solution. The City is actively working with its partners to find and secure more safe spaces for people to stay warm and dry,” reads the statement.
BC Housing and the GSL Group recently began discussions on reusing the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre as a temporary shelter for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Victoria, but no firm decisions have been made at this time.
CHEK News
