Brookmeade Park homeless camp takes more than decade to close, rehouse occupants
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A more than decade’s long homeless camp in West Nashville, Brookmeade Park, has finally closed, and everyone who lived in the park is now rehoused.
This comes after FOX 17 News has reported on the drugs, death, and crime that not only affected those in the park, but also community members and nearby businesses.
Yet, it took more then ten years for the homeless encampment to close.
Lou Wilbanks was one of the first community members to bring the issue to light, saying the encampment was worse than she imagined.
“What I saw in there was horrible. Drug needles, trash, rats, people living in it, and human waste everywhere. The three words I would describe Brookmeade when I went in there and until recently, are desperation, drugs, and death.
FOX 17 News first went inside the homeless encampment in July 2021 with Wilbanks and Council Member Gloria Hausser.
“It’s beyond eye-opening. It’s stomach-turning when I look around here. This looks like something you would see on television with a 1-800 number underneath where you could contribute. I don’t think of this in my city, the city I love,” said Council Member Hausser in 2021.
FOX 17 News went straight to the Director of Metro’s Homeless Impact Division at the time, Judith Tackett, with community concerns.
"What does this make you want to do as a leader who is working on this project?” asked a FOX 17 News reporter.
“I want to house people," said Tackett. "No one in this nation should have to live outdoors. Period."
Tackett announced a plan for Brookmeade in August of 2021 with a goal to reduce the number of people living there and to reduce crime by Nov. 1 of that year.
At this point, around eighty people were living at Brookmeade.
About two months later, Tackett resigned, but Nashville Mayor John Cooper spoke on Brookmeade for the first time.
“Have you visited the West Nashville homeless park in Brookmeade Park?” asked FOX 17 News reporter Amanda Chin.
“I have,” said Mayor Cooper.
“How many times?” asked Chin.
“Well, I get out that way, you know, once a month,” replies the Mayor.
“What do you make of that specific one?” asks Chin.
“It’s not acceptable long-term in the city as we negotiate good answers for individuals,” says Mayor Cooper.
FOX 17 News continued to push for answers from the council member who represents the area Brookmeade Park is in, Dave Rosenberg.
“A business in your district is seriously considering leaving its location because of the homeless situation at Brookmeade. What do you say to your constituents who have these concerns that are as great calling it quits in this area?” asked a FOX 17 reporter.
“It’s a really difficult situation. This camp has been there for twelve years, maybe longer. It has continued to exist, through various efforts. I think the efforts happening now are more intense than they have been,” replied Council Member Rosenberg.
In Dec. 2022, FOX 17 News continued to press Mayor Cooper on a plan to address homelessness.
In Jan. 2022, FOX 17 heard from District Attorney Glenn Funk.
“I’m always frustrated because I would’ve liked to have solved this problem yesterday or years ago. What’s important is we now have a group of city leaders who are dedicated to recognizing the problem,” says DA Funk.
A month later, the district attorney visited Brookmeade Park for the first time, with Metro Police, Nashville fire, city leaders, and community members.
“Do you think parks or someone else should be enforcing these ordinances because those are technically not allowed in here?” asked Chin.
“I understand why people would bring propane and try to have warmth and heat and be safe with in regard to make sure they don’t freeze overnight, but if they’re having to do that in a way that puts them in physical danger, and potentially a large fire that catches very quickly, could have dozens of casualties,” replied DA Funk.
Under new leadership, FOX 17 News continued to push for answers from Metro’s Homeless Impact Division.
“A lot of community members and business owners say they fear for their safety as well. What response would you have for the safety aspect of this?” asked Chin.
“As a department, I’m concerned, not only for the business owners, not only for the neighbors but for those that actually live in the park,” said April Calvin, the Interim Director of Metro’s Homeless Impact Division.
“What are your goals when it comes to getting something done with Brookmeade Park as soon as possible, for people who have seen this camp there for many years?" asked Chin.
“We’re gonna let our community decide. We’re gonna create the public will. We already have the political will,” said Calvin.
Up until September, FOX 17 News had yet to hear from Metro Parks.
Brookmeade is a Metro Park, which means it’s the department’s job to enforce ordinances and secure the park.
“So, what are you doing to address the trash concerns? Is there something you guys are doing to address that concern about cleanups and then it just returning to how it was before? They’ve been calling on this for a year. Do you feel some of this is too late?” Chin asked the spokesperson for Metro Parks.
In September, Mayor Cooper unveiled his fifty-million-dollar plan to tackle homelessness.
Metro Parks decided to hold a special meeting to address Brookmeade Park.
“Does Parks Board take any responsibility for not having this conversation years ago?” asked Chin.
“We’ve been doing parks cleanups, but I think the frustration is we did not communicate a plan quickly enough, so we want to absolutely do that,” said Michelle Steele, the Metro Parks Board Director.
In November, Metro leaders announced Brookmeade Park would officially close on Jan. 4.
Metro Parks has yet to provide FOX 17 with a solid plan to secure the park, although a fence has been built for renovations and restoration of the park.
For members of “Reclaim Brookmeade Park," this is a win.
“Did you ever think Brookmeade would not close?” asked Chin.
“No, because the group of people that we had put together and the support that we got illustrated to me that this was a huge issue, and this was not just an issue in West Nashville. It’s an issue all over this city,” said Dede Byrd, a community advocate and member of “Reclaim Brookmeade Park.”
But why did it take so long?
“Do you think there was reluctance from city leaders to do something about Brookmeade and if so, why?” asked Chin.
“I think the reluctance of our city leaders to acknowledge the extent of this encampment and the damage it had been doing to the park itself and the community would be a stain on their leadership,” said Rebecca Lowe, the founder of “Reclaim Brookmeade Park.”
“What do you think made them change their mind and actually do something about Brookmeade?” asked Chin.
“I think the numbers in our community, the strength in our community. We have a lot of different people who were supporting this movement,” said Lowe.
Community members will continue to keep an eye on folks who may want to come back to Brookmeade and start a new encampment.
For almost two years now, FOX 17 News has requested to sit down with Mayor Cooper to no avail.
FOX 17 has emailed and even gone to his office with no success.
At several of his announcements, FOX 17 has not had the ability to ask him questions, including this January 5 event where Mayor Cooper thanked those who helped house folks living at Brookmeade.
The mayor gave a quick statement and was rushed out the back door.
The mayor says there are more than thirty encampments across the city, and an encampment in South Nashville will be the next place to close.
Leaders hope to house everyone within the next few months.
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