Threats of citations and court orders from park rangers has led community members around Madison to shield local unhoused from potential harm.
A group of typically three to six homeless individuals frequently staying under the Yahara Place Park-East Washington Avenue bridge have been intimidated on multiple occasions by park rangers pushing them to leave the area. The group reports three different times park rangers, usually in sets of two, have come to try and persuade people there to move elsewhere. The most recent instance reported was Sept. 10 at around 12:30 pm.
Two unhoused people who typically sleep there told Madison 365 that two people who identified themselves as Wisconsin DNR park rangers told those who were staying there they needed to leave by 10 p.m. — when the park closes — or they’d be cited and courts would become involved…