Are Homeless Being ‘Dumped’ in Boca Raton Parks? City Is Investigating

Homeless presence at Silver Palm Park, Boca Raton, FL. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

A series of rain showers moved out of the Boca Raton area by evening Monday night, giving way to a hazy sunset. It was just in time for a yoga group to meet at Wildflower Park, and a few boaters were getting ready to launch for a bit of night fishing.

Feet away from these intended park activities, however, different gatherings were taking place: a homeless couple had set up beach chairs near the restrooms at Wildflower Park, surrounded by a number of Publix bags, suitcases and other personal items spread out around them. The woman loudly ranted to the man, and both occasionally walked in circles around their belongings. Park-goers could be seen giving them a wide berth, hoping not to make eye contact. Near the boat ramp at Silver Palm Park across the street, a person was laid out on a concrete slab next to the Palmetto Park bridge, wrapped up in layers of blankets. It would have been nearly impossible to tell whether a person was even contained in the heavy fabrics, except for the fact that they would move slightly every so often. Another homeless man hung around nearby, occasionally walking from a bench to an area where his belongings were strewn about.

Homeless presence at Wildflower Park (Photo: Boca Daily News)

While the scenes would likely evoke feelings of sadness on the part of many, the practical implications of the presence of what seems to be increasing instances of vagrancy in city parks is causing real safety concerns among residents – especially young women who have complained in local social media groups of men aggressively approaching them unsolicited. The issue came to a head at last week’s city council meeting, where a father spoke out about the problem from the perspective to his daughter, who he had just convinced to move to town. She chose a building downtown, close to the scenic parks.

“She can’t go out in the evening on the sidewalk without being accosted by homeless people, screaming, shouting, demanding cigarettes, and things like that,” the father, whose name has been withheld, told officials.

The concerned father, a veteran, said one day he saw a homeless person wearing military-themed clothing who looked approachable. The man was in a wheelchair, and it was obvious he could not have made it a long distance to end up near the city boat ramp. He asked the man how he ended up there, and why he chose the park. The homeless person’s response may have shined some light on the reason behind the increasing population.

“He told me that we get paid $25 and we get dropped off at the boat ramp,” the resident said. “I said, ‘Well, why is that?’ And it was, [he said] because the city doesn’t bother us.”

Homeless presence at Silver Palm Park, Boca Raton, FL. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The conversation continued, and the resident said he was told that a nonprofit group uses vans to drop off homeless people in city parks. The homeless people request dropoffs there because “no one bothers us … we can basically do what we want.”

“I don’t think it’s a systemic problem with the city itself,” the resident told city council members. “I think it’s a systemic problem with these NGOs that are sort of dumping people on the street. I hope you take a look into that.”

Later in the meeting, City Manager Mark Sohaney said he had already heard concerns from residents and was actively in talks with both nonprofit organizations and neighboring city governments, including Delray Beach, about the growing issues.

“I’ve been here for about six months, and I’ve taken a lot of time on this, and really reached out and talked a little bit to everybody,” said Sohaney, including meeting with Delray Beach officials. “I was there last Monday for about three or four hours, and going through the process with their police department, the history, and talking to interfaith groups in Delray Beach, as well as about their community initiatives.”

Sohaney said he had another meeting scheduled with a Boca Raton-based nonprofit group this week, and would prepare an after-action report for the city council on his findings after the series of meetings that have been held over the course of several months.

“And then from that, I will make some recommendations to council on a community initiative, or a couple other ideas to enhance some of our policing activities, as well as our community outreach activities,” he said.

Earlier this year, the council adopted new ordinances concerning trespassing on city property. Under the ordinance, a trespass warning may be issued when an individual commits a “qualifying violation” – defined broadly to include violations of federal, state, or local law occurring on public property. The ordinance provides two distinct mechanisms for enforcement: “Adjudicated Trespass Warnings,” issued by a neutral hearing officer following a noticed administrative hearing; and an “Immediate Trespass Warning,” issued by law enforcement officers in limited circumstances involving “dangerous or disruptive behavior” or repetitive violations.

A sign notifying visitors of the hours at a Boca Raton, FL city park. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

According to city officials, courts in recent years have scrutinized municipal trespass warning systems that lack adequate procedural safeguards or clarity of standards, emphasizing the necessity of due process, impartial adjudication, and meaningful review rights. The ordinance requires the installation of signage providing public notice that entry by an individual subject to an active trespass warning is unauthorized and may constitute criminal trespass. Immediate trespass warnings and expulsion from property can occur if an incident involves “actual or threatened physical harm to any person,” the brandishing of a weapon or other instrument that could cause harm, endangering or intimidating conduct directed toward minors, or any act of vandalism that could necessitate the need for a facility to be repaired.

Sohaney said his comprehensive report will be submitted to the council in the coming weeks.