City Manager Terry McGean said he has tasked the Ocean City Police Department with increasing patrols in Sunset Park after receiving complaints from a downtown resident about homeless individuals sleeping, drinking and storing property in the area.
At the end of last Monday’s meeting, downtown resident Scott Chismar came before the Ocean City Council to voice his concerns about homeless activity in the downtown area. Specifically, Chismar shared complaints about homeless individuals sleeping and gathering at Sunset Park, Inlet Park and the Boardwalk tram station.
“We’re not going to solve homelessness, but what we’re doing now is not working,” he said, “and it’s progressively getting worse.”
While commending the town’s work in managing both Northside Park and the Bayside Park at 3rd Street, Chismar told city leaders last week they were neglecting both Sunset Park and Inlet Park. He said something needed to be done to address what he sees as a growing homeless issue downtown.
“Whatever we have going on right now is not working,” he said. “We need to take a look at what we’re doing and we need to revamp or retool and get refocused on what we’re doing. Sunset Park is an absolute mess right now. It’s a mess, you guys. It’s terrible. It’s a mess. Inlet Park, down at the end, it’s a mess.”