The Grand Rapids Herald spoke with several individuals over the course of two weeks in Heartside Park. All refused to give their names, but stated that the Grand Rapids Police Department is regularly enforcing code violations around smoking and excessive belongings.

Many of the individuals criticized the enforcement as harassment. Although reports of how frequent the enforcement was varied — one woman said as often as every 10 minutes, which seemed unlikely — the homeless individuals interviewed agreed that the GRPD presence was consistent.

“They’re always writing tickets,” said another man, who appeared to be homeless.

The city has banned all smoking and vaping in public parks since 2020. Likewise, drinking alcohol in parks not in city social districts and without a permit is illegal in Grand Rapids. According to city ordinance, violators will first receive a verbal warning. Failure to comply results in a civil infraction, which comes with a $50 fine. Police may ask those who violate the ordinance to leave the park, which could result in a trespassing charge if they don’t leave the property.

Grand Rapids’ ordinances also forbid unattended or excess attended personal property in public parks. The City Commission adopted an ordinance in 2023 in a 5-2 vote prohibiting individuals from carrying personal property beyond what could fit in a sealed 32-gallon bin. Third Ward Commissioner Kelsey Perdue and Second Ward Commissioner Lisa Knight voted against the measure. 

Any personal property, whether attended or unattended, that obstructs public rights of way or poses a risk to the public is also prohibited. The city may remove personal property without prior notice, the ordinance states, with post-removal notices given. The notice will specify what was taken and when it was moved. The seized items are held in city storage for 30 days.

GRPD’s Central Service Area patrol and community police officers operate daily in Heartside Park and Veterans Park, said Central Service Area Captain Brad Bush in a prepared statement. Enforcement includes arrests, citations, field interviews, park expulsion, and warnings, he said.

Earlier this month, the city of Grand Rapids announced expanded Homeless Outreach Team operations for the duration of ArtPrize, as well as a pilot program for an additional cleaning shift. 

Write to juliana@grherald.com