photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

The former site of a homeless camp at Hobbs Park in East Lawrence, pictured Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.

Updated at 3:27 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14

A homeless camp that has persisted on the eastern edge of Hobbs Park was cleared away this week.

The camp, on private property in East Lawrence, had been there for some time but recently had grown as the City of Lawrence shut down the sprawling homeless camp behind the Amtrak station in mid-October.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The entrance to the homeless camp next to Hobbs Park, pictured on Oct. 20, 2024. The camp was feet from the Lawrence Loop Trail.

When the Journal-World at that time asked the city about its plans for the Hobbs camp, which is immediately adjacent to park amenities like a playground, electrical outlets and a toilet facility, it was told that because it was on private property “the city does not have the authority to take enforcement actions.”

“It is the responsibility of the property owners to trespass individuals from their land,” Misty Bosch-Hastings, director of the city’s Homeless Solutions Division, told the Journal-World.

That is what happened this week, as campers left the site and heavy equipment came in to clear the land and remove some trees that had somewhat obscured the camp, which was situated a few feet from the Lawrence Loop Trail, from public view.

The property, which has been the subject of multiple police and fire calls in the past couple of years, is owned by the local Schwada family. Steve Schwada, whom the Journal-World reached by telephone Thursday, declined to comment on the matter.

When the city shut down the Amtrak camp a few weeks ago it said it had no intention, with winter setting in, to clear other camps on publicly owned land. It said it was assisting camp residents with various services but acknowledged that some campers from that area had relocated to other camps in the city.

The city indicated Thursday afternoon that it didn’t know where the campers from the private property had gone but said that the homeless outreach team would continue efforts to get an updated status on those that moved.

The outreach team regularly visits homeless camps to build trust with vulnerable people living outdoors and to educate them about available services.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Private property just east of Hobbs Park, at 11th and Delaware streets, is pictured Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Hobbs Park, 11th and Delaware streets, is pictured Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.