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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Crank shooting call likely a case of 'SWAT-ing,' Medford police say ... Suspected car thief found asleep in stolen vehicle in Ashland ... Cooking oil fire damages SOU-owned house, displaces two ... Crank shooting call likely a case of 'SWAT-ing,' Medford police say ... Suspected car thief found asleep in stolen vehicle in Ashland ... Cooking oil fire damages SOU-owned house, displaces two ... EUGENE Homeless camp relocates because of Eugene overnight sleeping ban Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Sep. 1, 2015 at 4:34 PM By The Associated Press Posted Sep. 1, 2015 at 4:34 PM » Social News EUGENE — Over the weekend, homeless campers pitched a dozen or so tents at an undeveloped city park in south Eugene after being moved by local officials at least three times before. Organizers chose that spot in part to protest city and county laws that prohibit overnight sleeping on public land, camp resident and advocate Laura Maricle told The Register-Guard. "I picked this spot on purpose because I wanted to be in an area of Eugene where people had maybe heard about homeless camps, but had not seen or witnessed one," she said. Maricle, 45, said she has a master's degree in nonprofit organization management but wants to make a stand with her homeless friends. The campers are living on a 1.3 acre field of dry weeds along Hilyard Street that's considered park land by the city. Homeless camps have popped up around the region over the last few years, but the tents may be a first for this part of Eugene. "It's an area of town where we think we can generate some sympathy," said Maricle. The campers are on city park land, said Eugene Police Lt. Doug Mozan, and people are not allowed there between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. He said officers are trying to persuade the campers to move willingly before issuing fines and making arrests. "We are not rash to go to enforcement," Mozan said. "We have been very, very effective with diplomacy so far." Mozan said he hopes some of the Hilyard Street campers will seek shelter at some of the city's authorized homeless camps. The camp moved from city and county land in north Eugene, where they spent 10 days before being forced out by police. It was the fourth time in the past few months that the group had to move or be cited for violating local ordinances, and Maricle said the group is already scouting for a new location. "It's just moving us from spot to spot," Maricle said. "Moving us every 24 hours to 10 days isn't solving much." The camp has a dozen or so tents, two portable canopies for shade and a place for its residents to eat. There are coolers with food, drinks and water, as well as a two-burner propane stove. Near the camp is a portable toilet paid for by the nonprofit Nightingale Health Sanctuary. Garbage is taken away daily by a supporter. "It just brings the issue of homelessness to south Eugene in a very visceral way," said Heather Sielicki, chairwoman of the area's neighborhood group, Southeast Neighbors. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Sep. 1, 2015 at 4:34 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501