The last tents and makeshift structures at a sprawling homeless encampment in Simpson Park are gone, after Linn County deputies wrapped up a weeks-long sweep north of Albany’s Talking Water Gardens. The sheriff's office said Monday that the riverfront site, long used for city recreation, was cleared following repeated warnings, walk-throughs and several arrests. Contractor crews were set to move in the next day to start restoring the land.
According to a press release from the Linn County Sheriff's Office, deputies first walked the camp on May 12, contacting 32 people and later making multiple arrests on outstanding warrants during follow-up visits. The sheriff's office said the privately owned property, used by the city for recreation, had suffered extensive damage and posed significant public-safety hazards, and confirmed a contractor was scheduled to begin cleanup on Tuesday.
"The condition of this property represents a significant public safety and environmental risk," the sheriff's statement said, per the Linn County Sheriff's Office. Deputies reported finding active campfires and discarded, uncapped hypodermic needles as crews prepared to clear the site.
What deputies found
Local reporting that reviewed the sheriff’s release described a makeshift village that had grown into something far more elaborate than a cluster of tents. The camp included improvised two-story structures, abandoned vehicles and boats, solar-powered surveillance cameras, fenced-off compounds with animals and thousands of bicycles and bike parts scattered across the area. HH-Today notes that trees and bushes had been cut down and human waste was left throughout the site.
Outreach and next steps
During the operation, employees with Community Helping Addicts Negotiate Change Effectively (C.H.A.N.C.E.) accompanied deputies, aiming to connect people living in the camp with shelter options and other services, according to the sheriff. Cleanup crews were scheduled to start work Tuesday, and local coverage showed workers already on the riverbank; KPTV published a photo gallery of the scene.
Legal consequences
Deputies made arrests on outstanding warrants during enforcement visits, with charges including Assault II and Unlawful Use of a Weapon, according to local reporting that summarized the sheriff’s release. When deputies returned for the final sweep, the remaining campers left the property without arrest, HH-Today reports.
Why it matters
Officials said the goal of the removal was to restore the riverfront for public recreation while cutting down on safety and environmental risks for campers and nearby residents alike. The sheriff’s office said it will keep working with the property owner, partner agencies and community organizations throughout the cleanup and restoration process.
