Dozens of homeless people pushed out of Naches Ave as fences block off the medians
YAKIMA -- Dozens of homeless people have been pushed out of Naches Avenue in Yakima as a new fence has gone up.
The city says restoration work needs to happen after tent encampments have been set up in the median between roads for years.
The city says the Naches Avenue parkways are in desperate need of repair, in part because they get so much use.
Randy Beehler, a spokesperson for the city says between the grass that's worn away to the broken down irrigation system, they need to go in and assess just how bad the situation is and what sorts of repairs they'll need to make.
People experiencing homelessness often spend time in that now fenced off area.
Those who've lived there on the streets say upwards of 60 people may come an go throughout the day.
The medians from Yakima A0venue to East Walnut have all been blocked off.
Beehler says once the repairs are complete, the homeless are more than welcome to return to the Naches Parkway islands, because he says they have every right to enjoy public space during the day.
