Denver parks officials agreed Tuesday to allow groups to continue feeding the hungry and homeless in Civic Center park – at least for another 90 days.
The three-month exception gives the groups time to petition the Parks and Recreation Department for a change to the regulations that prevent the mass feeding of homeless at the downtown park.
Or they can find someplace else to feed them.
“It’s not a matter of right or wrong, but rules and permits,” said Susan Fry, director of the department’s park ranger program. “We appreciate that there is a huge effort by people that should be considered.”
Several groups that met with city officials Tuesday said they’ll also consider banding their resources to find a suitable location to feed the hungry away from the park. One offering was the Temple Events Center, 1595 Pearl St.
“We’d like to plug into the resources and tap into the city’s agenda,” said Kim Huffman, an Arvada resident who frequently feeds the hungry at Civic Center.
At issue is a park regulation that requires a permit for all activities with more than 25 people. Some feedings have attracted more than 100 homeless and hungry.
But mass feedings are not among the permitted activities, so parks department officials said that activity was prohibited.
Groups that feed the homeless said banning them from the park is just a way for the city to push the problem out of the public view.
Staff writer David Migoya can be reached at 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com.
