Some residents are raising the red flag over concerns they have about homeless encampments increasingly spreading into public youth play areas at Mission Bay’s Ski Beach.

Some Ski Beach frequent users, like members of Na Koa Kai Club, Inc., a Hawaiian outrigger group dedicated to perpetuating the Hawaiian and Pacific Islander culture and lifestyle, say they’ve witnessed a disturbing rise in homeless encampments there. They are claiming these makeshift shelters have introduced a range of safety hazards, including unsanitary conditions, the potential for increased criminal activity, and restricted access to public facilities designed for children and families.
“It’s RVs and small school busses converted into homes,” said Gus Cervantes, president of Na Koa Kai, about the nature of the homeless encroachment problem. “This is Mission Bay Park, it’s supposed to be public use for everyone, and is used for all kinds of aquatic sports.”

Cervantes said he has grown increasingly concerned for the safety of his youth-only nonprofit canoe club that has been coming down to Ski Beach since 2011. “Normally there are a lot of birthday parties around here, but, with all these makeshift homes here, we’re seeing fewer and fewer people here.”

Added Cervantes, “It (homeless encroachment) started last year with these makeshift homes. They just park here and they stay here. Families don’t come down here anymore because they don’t feel safe.”

Cervantes said he has had to employ a “buddy system” for his children because of the homeless intrusion. “None of my kids are allowed to go to the restroom or anywhere by themselves,” he said. “And now it’s even more concerning because you have all the mobile homes, and we don’t know who they are – or what they’re doing.”

Cervantes and others using Ski Beach are insisting immediate action needs to be taken by the City to address this escalating encampment crisis. In a joint statement, Ski Beach users said: “We are calling on Councilmember Jennifer Campbell and Mayor Todd Gloria to step in swiftly and decisively to restore safety and security in these public areas. Our parks should be sanctuaries for our kids, not spaces where they face potential dangers.”

Concerned citizens say the Ski Beach community’s call for action highlights the critical need for increased enforcement of park regulations, more frequent police patrols, and the immediate relocation of homeless encampments away from areas designated for youth activities.

Residents are now urging the City to prioritize the protection of public play areas by implementing immediate measures to address the safety risks posed by homeless encampments. The argument is that there is a pressing need to safeguard these cherished community spaces, ensuring they remain safe and accessible for all families.