CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) – City Manager Sam Sanders told City Council Monday night all conditions have been met to resume closing hours at 11 o’clock Saturday night at Market Street Park. Sanders told the meeting during the City Manager’s report Market Street Park has operating hours just like every other park in the city, 11pm-to-6am each day. Signs are posted and have been in place for years, and the hours are set in an ordinance passed by City Council.

Sanders thanked providers for stepping up with sheltering… PACEM and Pastor Joyner and the team at First United Methodist Church by providing the Hinton Avenue location kicking off this Saturday, which is a week early. He also thanked the Salvation Army for providing more beds.

Sanders said staff will work with those in the park to ensure their needs are met in the transition, including where to store their belongings… and he said he continues to work on longer term solutions including prioritizing collaborative fundraising and regional engagement to make a difference as soon as possible.