Peterborough's homeless campers have until Tuesday morning to pack up from Victoria Park or they'll be charged with trespassing.

The city issued an order Friday afternoon stating Victoria Park would be "closed" as of Tuesday at 9 a.m.

That means anyone who's still in the park after that will be trespassing and could receive a fine of up to $10,000.

Some campers, however, say they won't be leaving.

"I'm not going anywhere. I've got nowhere to go," said Rob Dyson, 59.

Dyson stayed at the Brock Mission for three months before moving to Victoria Park. He used to live in a rooming house on Boulevard Street, but it was "shut down" because it was drug infested.

He said he was surprised by the city's decision, saying he thought campers would get more notice if they had to leave.

If his tent is taken away Tuesday, Dyson said he'll continue to sleep in the park without one.

He assumes there'll be "chaos" Tuesday morning when the deadline is up, but no one has left.

Dwayne Duguay expects the same.

"Some campers want to riot. That is going to get seriously ugly," said Duguay, 52.

Duguay has been camping at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church but spends his days at Victoria Park with his friends.

His time is running out at the property though - the church is only allowing him to stay until Sept. 13.

Duguay said campers have nowhere to go and didn't get enough notice to vacate.

New bylaws were passed Aug. 12 about parks and facilities and trespassing. At the time, Mayor Diane Therrien said the new rules wouldn't be enforced so the issue could be handled compassionately.

The change in tune has left Duguay "frustrated and angry."

"She down right lied to the public, lied to the news and lied to us," he said.

Social service workers told Duguay on Friday that they had a one bedroom lined up for him, but he said he'll believe it when he gets the keys.

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"It's all words and I've been let down before, many times," Duguay said.

Victoria Park is the city's largest encampment, with about 45 tents on the Peterborough County-owned land.

Tents are also pitched at St. John's Anglican Church, but campers won't be able to move there. A sign posted outside the church says campers who've been there all along could stay, but no one else can join.

Tent cities are also in Jackson Park, Beavermead Park and Riverside Park.

The city's order states that the city and county chose to close Victoria Park because "conditions in the park have deteriorated to the point where it is not suitable for the shared use of the public."

It goes on to say that Victoria Park will reopen to the public after the encampment is gone and the grounds have been restored.

Tents started popping up in parks after the Warming Room temporarily closed July 1.

Over the last month, the city opened 30 overflow shelter beds, bringing the total number of shelter beds up to 110. There's been an average of about 30 beds available each night, the city estimates.

The city has also been providing additional funding to city police to patrol the parks to the tune of $2,800 a day, according to Coun. Andrew Beamer.

jessica.nyznik

@peterboroughdaily.com