Deschutes encampment gets cleaned up, but remains in place
The deadline to vacate given by landowners to people camping along Deschutes Parkway came and went on Thursday, with most residents remaining in place.
Around 9 a.m., volunteers from Just Housing Olympia arrived to provide sandwiches and water, and helped residents sweep debris into garbage bags.
Olympia Police Department Lt. Paul Lower said OPD has no plans to enforce the vacate notice, as The Olympian previously reported. Multiple landowners say they reached out to the Code Enforcement Office, which also declined to enforce the notice.
One of the homeowners joined in the cleanup efforts on Thursday.
The notice to vacate was given back in June, then extended, as The Olympian reported.
A letter co-signed by the landowners and made public by Just Housing on July 13 asked the Thurston County Commissioners to step in and designate a public location for sanctioned camping.
This story was originally published July 23, 2020 at 1:59 PM.
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