A sweep of Cal Anderson Park in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood was met with resistance Wednesday morning.
People living in the park were asked to remove their belongings by 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. However, protesters resisted, barricading a portion of the park and intentionally setting fire to a tent, according to Seattle Parks. Now, the parks department is assessing the site and preparing for a multi-day "intensive maintenance and cleaning."
It's unclear when the park will be clear of the current occupants. According to Seattle Parks, recent maintenance efforts "have been met with threats of physical violence." This has required Seattle Parks to request police assistance.
The Seattle Fire Department has reported five fires at the park in about a month, according to Seattle Parks.