GREEN BAY, WI — In response to a noticeable increase in homelessness across several city parks this summer, the City of Green Bay is convening a public forum on Wednesday at 5 p.m. The meeting will be held at Union Congregational United Church of Christ and will bring together city leaders, homeless‑service agencies, faith‑based groups and residents who have voiced safety concerns.
First‑hand perspective from a longtime unhoused resident
Anthon Cowan, who has been experiencing homelessness since February, plans to share his story at the forum. “Until you actually experience it, you really don’t understand it,” Cowan said. He explained that police enforcement actions have pushed people from one park to another, noting that St. John’s Park remains one of the few open locations, while Whitney, Navarino and St. James parks have been shut down.
Police explain enforcement rationale
City police have increased patrols and issued ordinance violations in parks, citing concerns about drug activity and human‑trafficking. “When you’re getting approached by individuals who are unhoused and don’t feel comfortable going to that park, that’s a problem,” said Will Peters, a neighborhood development specialist for the City of Green Bay.
City and community leaders outline response
Mayor‑appointed officials, elected representatives and service providers will join the discussion. Peters emphasized the need for transparency: “We have to have these conversations in order to come to a solution. Everybody has to know what the city is doing, what St. John’s, what New Community, what House of Hope, what all these other organizations are doing in order to really understand where we need to be putting our resources.”
Neighborhood groups call for action
Eric Drzewiecki of the Astor Park Neighborhood Association urged swift measures, noting that incidents are now spilling over into Jackson Square and other areas. “It’s time we want action,” he said, referencing recent reports of disturbances, including a woman who was not properly clothed at a shelter near St. James Park during the city band’s “Popcorn in the Park” event.
Faith‑based initiative to improve security
First United Methodist Church of Green Bay is also taking steps, planning to install $16,000 worth of cameras and $10,000 of fencing around its property to deter nighttime activity. A church‑issued letter explained the three‑year contract will cost $9,500 annually for monitoring, and the fencing will protect the air‑conditioning unit from misuse.
Looking ahead
Cowan expressed hope that the forum will lead to practical solutions, adding, “We’re not bad people. Yeah, we’ve got a few that are bad and give us all a bad name, but for the most part I would say a good 90‑95% of us are just trying to survive.” Peters confirmed that similar gatherings will be scheduled regularly to keep the dialogue open and to coordinate resources effectively.
The upcoming meeting reflects Green Bay’s commitment to addressing homelessness with compassion, public‑safety considerations and faith‑based partnership, aiming to protect families while offering dignity to those in need.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
