(WCCO) A man was shot in Powderhorn Park at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, the same week the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation board is set to vote on parameters for the homeless encampment inside the park.
The victim had been shot in the arm and face, and was transported to the hospital with noncritical injuries. His identity is unknown and no one has been arrested, pre local media reports.
The shooting was the second violent incident on the site as earlier this month a teen was sexually assaulted at a campsite in Powderhorn Park. Another teenager was shot near a tent encampment at Peavey Park in south Minneapolis.
As of July 9, encampments have been established at 38 parks, including two large encampments at Powderhorn Park where there are approximately 560 tents and 282 people living there.
At their Wednesday board meeting, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioners will vote to amend a resolution related to providing refuge space to the homeless while "continuing to work with state, county, city and non-profit organizations to identify solutions for people at the Powderhorn Park encampment and others throughout the city."
Jono Cowgill, president of the park board, predicted camp size and population will be successfully limited by tonight's vote. "MPRB will vote to provide more detail to its commitment to providing temporary space for people experiencing homelessness. After conversations with camp residents, organizers, neighbors and other leaders, MPRB will vote to set parameters on camp size and number," he tweeted.
He added the resolution that will be introduced tonight includes plans for 20 "manageable refuge sites" in Minneapolis parks.
"In passing this action, the Board will be committing to attainable goals in providing support for the unhoused and organizers working diligently to support these sites," Cowgill wrote in a string of tweets laying out plans for handling the tent city situation in a way that's respectful -- and manageable.
On Wednesday MPRB will vote to provide more detail to it's commitment to providing temporary space for people experiencing homelessness. After conversations with camp residents, organizers, neighbors and other leaders, MPRB will vote to set parameters on camp size and number.
— Jono Cowgill (@JonoCowgill) July 12, 2020And he called for funds to carry out the plans.
"There is a need for hundreds of millions of dollars from the State to address longer term housing for the unsheltered currently in parks," Cowgill said.
