The Birmingham City Council gave the green light Tuesday to a $74,950 contract with Sherrod Construction Co. to build a fence around the planned Oasis Park. The 0.21‑acre site at 600 3rd Ave North downtown will become a daytime outreach center for people experiencing homelessness.
What Oasis Park Will Offer
When completed, Oasis Park will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and include pavilions, restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, protection from inclement weather, a dog park and drinking water stations. Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, whose district will contain the park, said research shows it can take up to 20 points of contact before a person experiencing homelessness accepts help. “I believe this project will help build that trust,” O’Quinn said in a news release. “Beyond that, it gives people a place to take a shower, use the bathroom and do their laundry. This is a long‑term investment; it’s not a silver bullet. We’ll be tracking metrics and gauging impact so we have data on what’s working and what can improve.”
Funding and Oversight
The council previously approved an $850,000 agreement that places Oasis Park under the stewardship of Urban Alchemy, a California‑based nonprofit. The deal allocates $50,000 for a ground lease, $600,000 for operating costs and $200,000 for capital improvements, with the bulk of the money coming from national opioid settlement funds.
Urban Alchemy also runs the Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team (HEART), a $1.7 million city contract that fields calls about loitering, mental‑health crises and public disturbances. HEART workers connect callers to appropriate resources and service providers.
Concerns and Next Steps
While the fence contract passed without debate, some council members have previously questioned whether Urban Alchemy’s compensation matches its performance. Others have asked how city officials will prevent drug use at the park once it opens. Those concerns remain under discussion as the project moves forward.
Oasis Park represents a concrete step by Birmingham leaders to address homelessness with dignity and practical support. By providing basic necessities and a safe environment, the city hopes to foster trust and encourage people experiencing homelessness to engage with longer‑term assistance programs.
Original reporting: BirminghamWatch — read the source article.
