The Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre fenced off a parkette after reports of violence, open drug use, outdoor overdoses and near overdoses in the outdoor space. The parkette had become a gathering place for some clients of the centre's supervised consumption site, prompting use of inside resources outdoors during incidents. Visits to the supervised consumption site rose from 320 in April to about 550 in June, following closures of other sites. The closure aims to reduce incidents, allow staff to focus on indoor services, and include reseeding grass to beautify the area.
The Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre, which manages the parkette, says the outdoor space has been used as a gathering place by some clients of its supervised consumption site. According to centre staff, there have been outdoor overdoses and near overdoses in the parkette, and resources from inside the centre have been required outside. As well, there have been concerns by neighbourhood residents about public safety.
Visits to its supervised consumption site numbered 320 in April and as many as 550 in June. The number continues to grow, Clark said. Clark said the decision to close the parkette will allow the staff to focus better on the services they provide inside. Grass in the park will be reseeded as part of an effort to beautify the space, he added.
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