Parks officials to offer transportation to available shelters for those remaining in Powderhorn Park encampment

Monday, Minneapolis parks officials will increase their efforts to clear the dozens of people still living in a homeless encampment in Powderhorn Park.

Starting Monday, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will offer transportation to available shelters and other park encampments in the city as officials work to clear Powderhorn Park.

The park board issued "notices of transition" to those who remained at the encampment last week telling them they can’t stay in the park and letting them know about help that’s available.

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That notice said people were not able to stay in the park because of significant on-going crime and safety concerns and the encampment’s location, which is within a school safe zone.

There’s no deadline for clearing the park. Park officials did say only about 65 tents remain in the park, down from a high of more than 500 just a few weeks ago.

They say they will work slowly to help people transition out of the park with the help of community organizations and will only bring in park police as a last resort.

There will still be portable restrooms and hand washing stations at the park until the park has been cleared.

Last week, the Minneapolis City Council approved about $8 million to expand capacity for three new homeless shelters.

Those are not expected to open before the end of the year or early next year.