AUSTIN, Texas — On a rainy day in Austin, Andy Heemans is looking forward to getting in a quick game of disc golf on his favorite course at Roy G. Guerrero Park. While rain rarely affects the game, the growing number of homeless encampments at the park is sure to put a damper on it. 

What You Need To Know

  • Growing homeless encampments are affecting disc golf play at Roy G. Guerrero Park in Austin, Texas

  • In some instances, people experiencing homeless are blocking parts of the course or interfering with play

  • Golfer Andy Heemans told Spectrum News 1 that he believes it’s a result of Austin’s homeless camping ban, which went into effect a year ago. He believes people are being pushed out of the city and taking up residence where they can

  • In a statement, Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department said that it is working to gain compliance while reducing impacts to parkland amenities

“The golfing experience can go sour if you have to wait on people who don’t know or don’t care what you’re doing right in front of you,” said Heemans.

Unhoused residents sometimes interfere with the game or block parts of the course. Heemans says it’s hard to tell people to get out of the way when they are living on the fairway. It's an issue that has become frustrating because he doesn’t know who to be mad at.

“I think the disc golfing community and those experiencing homelessness deserve better and something should be done to help these people and make the disc golfing course more accessible,” said Heemans.

Heemans believes since the statewide camping ban last year, many people experiencing homelessness are being pushed out of public view. Out of sight and out of mind, as opposed to getting the help they really need.

“If you do care about these people, this is not a permanent or long-term solution,” said Heemans.

Spectrum News 1 reached out to the Austin Parks and Recreation Department regarding Heeman’s concerns. PARD sent the following statement:

“At this time, the number of encampments on parkland exceeds the resources available. There are currently more than 250 known encampments on parkland. The encampment at Roy G. Guerrero Park grew in size when other encampments on parkland and roads and bridges were cleared. ECHO’s April estimate of unsheltered population is 2,478.

"The Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) continues to partner with the Austin Police Department and Austin Public Health to address homelessness with a citywide approach. At Roy G. Guerrero Park specifically, staff have worked to gain compliance with reducing impacts to parkland amenities. With very limited to no housing/sheltering options available, clearing an encampment results in additional impacts to parkland as individuals move to another park. This park is the highest priority site to be addressed from the Parks and Recreation Department’s perspective and PARD is working with city partners to address concerns.

"Please know the following has occurred as it relates to the Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro Park:

  • Park Rangers visited the park to identify and log the encampments
  • Park Rangers notified the campers that camping is illegal on parkland
  • Park Rangers provided resource information to the camper to assist with resolution
  • Park Rangers assessed the encampment based upon a number of health and safety criteria and ranked this encampment for future relocation and clean up

"Moving individuals is resource intensive and requires coordination with multiple city departments to avoid people moving to a park nearby or reestablishing the encampment in a new park location. At this time, the collective resources will allow the Parks and Recreation Department to monitor the situation and rely upon the established prioritization system for necessary resource allocations and clean up in the future. Please know our PARD team is working diligently to address issues. There are several active clean-up operations throughout the park system. This situation will be addressed as soon as resources become available.

"You can read about how the Parks and Recreation Department prioritizes and responds to reports of camping on parkland at AustinTexas.gov/Homelessness.”