Residents of makeshift encampments at Milwaukee's park-and-ride lots are facing a pressing deadline to vacate their temporary homes as state officials cite security concerns. According to a statement made Monday by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, two park-and-ride lots at Holt Avenue and I-43/I-94 will close indefinitely to the public, including the community of nearly 30 individuals like Wanka Reynolds, who now must rapidly locate a new place to live, as per Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The closure, set for October 21, follows a 42% spike in emergency calls over the summer period compared to last year, with incidents including theft and drug overdoses. This has prompted to finally take steps to address the escalating crisis. A resident of the College Avenue lot, Joanne, will also be affected by the closures and expressed her concerns in a WISN interview, stating, "They're going to shut this down really soon, and I'm scared because I don't know where I'm going to go."
Mari, a resident at the Holt Avenue lot, sharply criticized the decision in an Urban Milwaukee article, questioning, "It’s just not humane. Where do you expect people to go? Are they supposed to disappear?" People living at the lots have been aware of their tenuous situation but are now confronted with the immediate concern of finding alternative shelter.
The Department of Transportation has instructed that any vehicles still present after the closure date will be "removed/towed," signaling a firm end to the park-and-ride's current use as an impromptu residential area, as per Urban Milwaukee. As individuals like Joanne to vocalize their anxieties of the future, officials have not yet detailed any official plans for relocation or assistance for those dislodged by the closures, notwithstanding the dire need highlighted by residents and activists alike.
