Seattle city work crews descended on Dr. Jose Rizal Park on Wednesday, to dismantle a cabin and a large encampment constructed by a homeless man known as Steven Michael Irwin. Despite his claims of having permission to build there, KATU reported that Irwin was previously arrested for commandeering an excavator from a construction site and illegally removing trees from the park in October.

Beyond the wooden structure, the team cleared out various items left at the site, unearthing a washing machine, treadmill, beer kegs, and a microwave among the possessions, as per details from KOMO News. Irwin, after having been booked into jail and charged with property destruction, found his way back to the park post-release, continuing his work.

Addressing the site's future, park steward Craig Thompson, while noting that the revitalization of the locale would not be an overnight venture, highlighted that "It is going to take years to restore the park," he told KATU. "It is going to take a committed effort. The city has to put a plan together and stick to it."

According to Lori Baxter from Mayor Bruce Harrell's office, the removal was carried out by the City's Unified Care Team following an engagement with the Seattle Police Department at the site. FOX 13 Seattle reported that the city recently shelled out $15,000 to restore parts of the park which Irwin had dug up using the pilfered excavator. The ongoing clearing attempts highlight the challenges that local authorities face in managing the homelessness crisis besetting Seattle's public spaces.