Statement Re: Temporary Park Closure for Green Space Festival 

As we prepare for this year’s Green Space Festival (GSF), we want to take a moment to share context about the temporary closure of Barbara Hall Park and the broader work that guides our efforts every year.

For nearly 40 years, The 519 has gotten permits to host events in Barbara Hall Park celebrating Pride with and in support of our communities. Free to attend and supported by hundreds of volunteers, GSF serves a vital purpose: it raises essential funds that directly support our year-round programs and services for 2SLGBTQ+ communities, including our ongoing work with individuals experiencing homelessness.

In a time of increasing demand and significant cuts to public funding, the need for flexible, unrestricted revenue has never been more urgent. The funds raised through GSF enable us to sustain critical programs and services that are essential to community wellbeing — work that is too often left under or unfunded by traditional funding streams, but that our communities cannot go without.

The 519’s outreach and support for unhoused community members is not limited to a season or event. It continues every day through our housing, shelter, and wellbeing services, including in the lead-up to GSF. Our teams are regularly present in Barbara Hall Park, offering harm reduction services, connections to shelter and housing, and compassionate, person-centered support. This work happens in close collaboration with community partners and city divisions who we work with every day to connect people to supports and housing.

Over the past week, including this morning, we have helped connect individuals to shelter, where possible and where it was desired. As per the City’s protocol, police were present at the site today to support the City’s encampment outreach and response staff in their work.

We consistently advocate across all levels of government to address the systemic causes of homelessness, from the shortage of affordable and supportive housing to critical gaps in healthcare, mental health, and addiction services. Lasting change requires urgent and sustained public investment. We encourage those passionate about these issues to continue pushing for systemic solutions and policy reforms that target the root causes.

We remain committed to doing this work with care, compassion, and collaboration, and we welcome continued dialogue and collective action that moves us toward lasting, systemic change.