Hillsdale DPS Collects over 4,000 Pounds of Trash from Baw Beese Trail
The volume of trash along the trail has doubled since last year, and more remains.
Baw Beese Trail—The Hillsdale Department of Public Services (DPS) has cleaned up over 4,000 pounds of trash along the Baw Beese Trail in the past two weeks alone.
The issue came up at the Hillsdale City Council’s 5 May meeting, during a discussion about vagrancy in the city and code enforcement regarding “Camp Hope”—a homeless encampment in the parking lot at Hillsdale Community Thrift.
DPS Director Jason Blake told the council that his department picked up “roughly 4,000 pounds” of trash along the trail in the past two weeks alone.
City employees reportedly spent over 70 hours gathering up and disposing of items such as used needles, bottles, and other trash.
“We’re still not complete,” Blake added. “There’s one more camp we’re working with the police to clear this week.”
Some on council argued that forcing Camp Hope—which is operated by Melissa DesJardin, proprietor of Hillsdale Community Thrift—to follow city ordinances would contribute to further camping around the city.
But according to Blake, camping on public property is already at an all-time high, despite an ordinance passed by the city council in 2023 prohibiting such activity on public property.
When asked to compare this year’s quantity of camping trash with previous years, Blake said that it has “probably doubled.”
“This is the most trash that I’ve seen in my time since I’ve been here,” he added.
Mayor Pro Tem Joshua Paladino asked whether police have issued any citations under the city’s no-camping policy, but City Manager David Mackie said he did not have that information.
According to the municipal code, Chapter 12, Article I, “[n]o person shall camp or place a tent or temporary living quarters on any public property owned or controlled by the city without first obtaining a permit from the city.”
Despite the city’s cleanup efforts, encampments and trash remain.
There’s an encampment north of Galloway Drive, near the Hillsdale Wastewater Treatment Facility:
There’s also still an encampment south of Fayette Street between the Baw Beese Trail and the railroad tracks, but some of the trash is gone.
Before:
After:
Just north of this encampment, nestled in the woods, there was an encampment with a mattress, clothes, and needles:
After:
The most significant cleanup occurred along the Baw Beese Trail north of Fayette Street. Here was the encampment on the east side of the St. Joseph River before DPS cleared it out:
After:
Before:
After:
And here was the encampment on the west side of the St. Joseph River.
Before:
After:
Jacob Bruns
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Related Stories:
Homeless Encampments, Trash, Drug Paraphernalia Litter the Baw Beese Trail
City of Hillsdale Denies 'Camp Hope' Code Enforcement Extension Request
About 4 weeks ago my son and I picked up half a truck bed full of trash, maybe 300-500 lbs (furniture). Broke up a camp with heat shield/fire pit, "dresser" and "chairs", rot gut bottles (full and empty). Just north of Fayette, "two properties" into the trail. Clearly visible from both neighbors and trail. Right behind the thrift store warehouse. I came on another camp and METH activity just south of Fayette by the river I think it's one of those pictured. BUTT, big butt I reported the activity to City Police and it was still active when I returned two weeks later. There is CLEARLY people profiting off this, and or people who "have no problem" with it. The county has an animal ordinance, there is no reason they can't "DO SOMETHING!". Where does the chief live (I know where Blake and Mackey live)? Can he not see this? Does he not walk the trail with his family? I was talking to a fellow property owner and they were so confused "that's the best part of the community, the trail" confused why it would be left to rot by those who have power. Walk down to Stocks Park, there is garbage all in the old canal, the buildings visible to the park have numerous broken windows and boarded up doors and windows. The building across the street from the park has all it windows boarded up.... And NOW.... there will be 15ish "transitional" beds at lifeway's (we all know that bond will pass Tuesday!) and 25 more at "Camp Hope" (I don't see how in my reading of the zoning but Allan and David are all for it!). IMO all of this "everything here is connected" PS, the resignations, the politics, the changes, the "battles"..... it's all sign of a swiftly sinking ship and the RATS are feasting right before the leave. 1/3rd of all the property (number, not value to my understanding) does not pay property tax. The unhoused do as the please, as do their allies... Personally I'm just crestfallen, it makes me ashamed to live in a place like this... But when a community is drunk on FEE FEES.... this is what you get (just like every other leftist community).