PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — John Prince Park is a popular destination in Lake Worth Beach for families and summer camps, but it’s also becoming more known for its homeless population. A problem that isn’t being ignored.
Every summer, For the Children, Inc. brings approximately 40 children and teens to John Prince Park for daily health and fitness activities. A park with pavilions littered with evidence of a homeless population sleeping both day and night.
“It does worry me as a parent because I have a child and I wouldn’t want my child to sleep outside or not have the proper food or shelter that he or she may need,” said Latoya Taylor, youth empowerment director of For the Children, Inc.
Which she says could deter park visitors. She adds already this summer the kids in her program have questions.
“They’re terrified,” Taylor said. “It’s unknown how bad these people are.”
According to Eric Call, director of Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation the homeless community in the park is higher than normal with a rise in homeless family members, females, and veterans.
He also estimates 90 to 95 people live in the park which is considered illegally camping and littering and is a misdemeanor offense. But there are legal limitations.
“We can’t arrest them,” Call said. “We can’t stop them from doing that necessarily unless we have a shelter bed to take them to. Because there are more homeless than we have beds for – that’s not something we can do.”
Call says his office and the county-at-large is tackling the root of the problem. A Parks and Recreation Homeless Task Force is now being created to target legal options and opportunities.
“We want to take portions of the park back so that our taxpaying citizens can enjoy some of those park amenities the way it was intended,” he said.
Moreover, a Homeless Outreach Center was recently approved by the Board of County Commissioners that will operate similarly to the Senator Philip D. Lewis Center and offer approximately 60 to 70 beds for the homeless population.
“But in addition to that we’re looking for other opportunities through this task force to assist these individuals,” Call added.
Palm Beach County’s Parks and Recreation is seeking eligible homeless candidates for the Parks 2 Work Program. The program hires members of the homeless population to do supervised landscape work for $10 per hour. Anyone that is interested in participating in the Parks 2 Work Program who is staying at John Prince Park can mention their interest to a HOT Team member for consideration or they can call 561-904-7900.