I’ve been sick for the last three days and haven’t blogged, but this is the choice offered on Monday to the folks abandoned at Token Creek – it was provided in writing yesterday.
I wasn’t allowed to (and given I was sick I wouldn’t have) attend/ed the meeting on Monday. But here is what was offered.
The 90 day special camping permit issued to those camping at Token Creek County Park is set to expire on Sunday, February 17th.
The campers can extend the current permit to March 17th provided they agree to the following conditions. First they must leave and remove all of their equipment from Token Creek Park on or prior to March 17th. Second, they cannot camp on any county owned parcel without a permit. Third, the county will not consider an extension of camping privileges on county owned property for the winter of 2013. The campers will be required to leave on February 17th if they do not accept the offer to extend the current permit.
As always, people are able to camp in county parks during normal camping months but must adhere to all rules and regulations. Failure of those camping at Token Creek to leave on February 17th or March 17 (depending on the feedback the Parks Division receives) will be treated as a violation of parks policy and those in violation will jeopardize their ability to camp in county parks for the 2013 camping season. In addition, the electricity will be turned off, portable toilets removed and transportation discontinued on the chosen departure date.
The Token Creek campers have been asked to notify Darren Marsh of Dane County Parks by noon on February 15 as to which date they intend to leave the park. Mr. Marsh can be reached at 224-3766.
Lovely. If they extend the time to stay there now, they can’t camp there next winter. Who is “they” is a huge question in my mind. And, of course the people there now hope and want to believe they won’t need to camp there next winter, but that doesn’t mean that others won’t. The population changes quite a bit, about 13 of the people there now were there when they started camping there this winter, and 34 people have stayed there throughout the winter. So, I don’t know how the people there now can say that for people who aren’t them.
And, of course, they have to take the extension because there is no other legal place for them to go. And camping in the winter without electricity is a rather daunting proposition. I think the county staff involved in making this proposal are cruel people or in severe denial, perhaps a touch of both.
Of course, I think it was cruel to put people there in the first place and the results of that are showing within the group – lots of bad things are happening. So, I don’t think it is bad that they won’t be able to camp there next winter and hopefully we can find a better option before then. Not hopeful tho, since nothing is currently legal and finding and indoor place is proving to be extremely challenging given neighborhood opposition.
