Life returned to Chapman and Lownsdale squares Sunday morning, more than seven hours after the city’s 12:01 a.m. eviction order came and went.

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While the population of both camps has dwindled, dozens of protesters remained, milling around, drinking coffee and setting up tents on the muddy ground. Garbage and debris littered both parks. Books, food, chairs, couches, table tops were strewn across both spaces. In Lownsdale Park, a makeshift shelf held household and toiletry items, along with a Sudoku book, a bottle of raspberry dressing and sun tan lotion.

In Lownsdale Square, Maggie Moser, 22, was setting up her tent again. Moser said she was prepared to follow the mayor’s eviction notice but decided to return when it became clear that the parks weren’t closed. Moser said she was married in the camp and thinks of it as home.

She said this morning's show of support for Occupy Portland was a victory for the movement.

“This is where I belong,” she said. “I believe in the cause. Today really showed how much we can do as people. We conquered.”

Meanwhile, Micaiah Dutt, an Occupy Portland protester and liason between the demonstration and City Hall, said this morning’s demonstration proved that residents don’t always have to listen to those in authority.

“At least 5,000 of us came out today,” he said. “They were not able to move us.”

As for camping in the parks, he said, “There is going to be camping throughout the day and the night.”

He said and other members of the Occupy Portland movement plan to meet with City Hall representatives today to discuss the future for the parks.

Mark Ross, a spokesman with Portland Parks & Recreation, said a team of arborists, engineers and ecologists is prepared to go into the parks today to assess the damage done by weeks of unauthorized camping. He said the agency is awaiting word from police that the parks are cleared.

"Once police have assured us that everyone's gone and the parks are secured, we will go in there and make assessments for damages and repairs," he said.

He said it's not clear when the city will be able to clear the parks and erect barricades as planned. He said the bureau is exercising "patience like the mayor has asked for. We are happy to move at the timeline the situation demands."

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