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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 Home News Latest Stories Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Politics and Elections Education Environment State News Nation - World Obituaries Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Varsity 541 College Sports Pro Sports Community Sports Business Latest Stories Real Estate News People In Business Transportation Agriculture Opinion Latest Editorials Letters to the Editor Guest Opinions Lifestyle Latest stories Food Home and Garden Health Hiking Biking Faith Milestones and Achievements Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Theater Music Community Events Dining Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Two missing Ashland teens planned to run away, police say ... GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County ... Northbound beams being set at I-5's exit 24 tonight ... Two missing Ashland teens planned to run away, police say ... GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County ... Northbound beams being set at I-5's exit 24 tonight ... SINCE YOU ASKED Homeless feeding questioned MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 11, 2014 @ 12:01 am Posted Oct. 11, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News Just a question out of curiosity: Is the city of Medford considering allowing the homeless to have the run of Railroad Park during the winter months, or are they only proposing feeding the homeless in the picnic area located outside of the actual park? I was unclear on that point after reading a recent article.  — Didi T., Medford The issue of feeding the homeless in local parks has touched a nerve with a lot of Medford residents, Didi. It’s also an issue with which many communities around the country have wrestled. Ashland, for instance, has its share of homeless people who frequent Lithia Park and the downtown. As to your question, a fenced-off portion of Railroad Park is closed during the winter months except for special events held by organizations that maintain the railroad exhibits. “It’s never been part of the proposal to feed them inside the fence,” said Brian Sjothun, director of Medford Parks and Recreation, adding that at least one organization a day hands out food outside the fence. Sjothun said it has never been the city’s intention to direct local organizations to offer free food to the homeless at Railroad Park or at the Almond Street parking lot. However, the city has offered to issue a permit to an organization that wanted an exclusive right to offer food to the homeless at Railroad Park or the parking lot, but none of the organizations have sought a permit so far. Because of civil rights issues, the city can’t require an organization to obtain a permit to distribute free food. Sjothun said certain sections of Hawthorne Park would remain open while the city undergoes a $1.65 million transformation of 13-acre patch of green near the downtown and Bear Creek. As a result, it could be possible that the portions of Hawthorne Park that remain open would allow organizations to continue providing food to the homeless. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 11, 2014 @ 12:01 am » 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. 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 Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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 2014 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