Mayor Tom Henry says groups are asking to use Freimann Square in downtown Fort Wayne.
And he says that's why the city evicted the occupy Fort Wayne protesters yesterday.
Henry says the city told the protesters months ago they would be asked to leave in the spring.
He says they can reorganize if they have filed the proper permits.
But by allowing the group to stay for free for months, it could potentially open the door to other groups asking for similar treatment.
For the first day in nearly five months, Freimann Square was un-occupied.
Yesterday, police officers evicted the Occupy protesters from the park.
Today, Henry explained why.
"We told the occupiers from the very beginning that as inquiries came in to rent spaces in open parks for other activities, that they would be asked to leave. And that's exactly what happened," Henry says.
He says that was the plan in November, when he told police to allow the group to stay through the winter.
"The decision was made by the mayor and his staff that enforcement was not going to take place as far as removing them from the park," says Marty Bender, Fort Wayne City Councilmember and Fort Wayne Police Department Deputy Chief back in November.
A protester told WFFT yesterday the city didn't give them enough notice to vacate.
Henry says that wasn't the case.
"We went in at nine o'clock yesterday morning and told them to be out by noon, which was three hours to pack up a tent, which we thought was appropriate," Henry says.
People had mixed reactions to the absence of protesters in the park and on the street corners.
"I am glad, I didn't like them here. I thought it was a distraction. It made Fort Wayne, it just took away from the beauty of the city," says Lori Tepper.
"They weren't being violent or anything like that, so they should have been allowed to stay," says Anthony Akins.
"I guess it's kind of sad for them, but it's time to move on, because it's time for the parks to open and everything else," says Heather Neese.
Henry says he realizes this has set a precedent for other groups to use a park without paying in the future.
"We'll take each group as they come forward and talk to them and discuss with them options that are available and we'll go from there," Henry says.
WFFT checked with the city's parks department, and as of right now, no one from the Occupy movement has requested a new assembly permit.
Henry says City Utilities has a campground at Johnny Appleseed Park, and the protesters are free to move their tents there-- as long as they pay the overnight fees.
And he says that's why the city evicted the occupy Fort Wayne protesters yesterday.
Henry says the city told the protesters months ago they would be asked to leave in the spring.
He says they can reorganize if they have filed the proper permits.
But by allowing the group to stay for free for months, it could potentially open the door to other groups asking for similar treatment.
For the first day in nearly five months, Freimann Square was un-occupied.
Yesterday, police officers evicted the Occupy protesters from the park.
Today, Henry explained why.
"We told the occupiers from the very beginning that as inquiries came in to rent spaces in open parks for other activities, that they would be asked to leave. And that's exactly what happened," Henry says.
He says that was the plan in November, when he told police to allow the group to stay through the winter.
"The decision was made by the mayor and his staff that enforcement was not going to take place as far as removing them from the park," says Marty Bender, Fort Wayne City Councilmember and Fort Wayne Police Department Deputy Chief back in November.
A protester told WFFT yesterday the city didn't give them enough notice to vacate.
Henry says that wasn't the case.
"We went in at nine o'clock yesterday morning and told them to be out by noon, which was three hours to pack up a tent, which we thought was appropriate," Henry says.
People had mixed reactions to the absence of protesters in the park and on the street corners.
"I am glad, I didn't like them here. I thought it was a distraction. It made Fort Wayne, it just took away from the beauty of the city," says Lori Tepper.
"They weren't being violent or anything like that, so they should have been allowed to stay," says Anthony Akins.
"I guess it's kind of sad for them, but it's time to move on, because it's time for the parks to open and everything else," says Heather Neese.
Henry says he realizes this has set a precedent for other groups to use a park without paying in the future.
"We'll take each group as they come forward and talk to them and discuss with them options that are available and we'll go from there," Henry says.
WFFT checked with the city's parks department, and as of right now, no one from the Occupy movement has requested a new assembly permit.
Henry says City Utilities has a campground at Johnny Appleseed Park, and the protesters are free to move their tents there-- as long as they pay the overnight fees.
