More than 80 residents live tucked behind woodsy trails north of Chapin Park, where the Arkansas River loops before heading on south. It’s Wichita’s largest known homeless encampment, both in area and population. It is sometimes referred to as “Narnia” or “Tent City.” The people there have been largely unaffected by a marked increase in encampment removals across the city — until this summer. The camp’s closure is now imminent.
While the city won’t confirm a closing date, sources say the shutdown could come as soon as late August. The aim — once all Chapin’s residents are housed or ejected — is to prevent the area from ever again being a refuge for the homeless. All encampments and standing structures will be destroyed and the area may be deforested.
An estimate from Boulevard Construction — the company contracted by the city for homeless encampment removals — that was obtained by The Journal through an open records request, estimates that the sweep of the area may cost $120,000 for the removal of 50 large sites. The work would be done within 45 days and attended by police during scheduled work hours.
The city said the estimate would need to be reviewed once a closure date is cemented. Parks and Recreation took over encampment cleanups last year, but Boulevard is on reserve for work as significant as the area outside of Chapin would be…