Fencing at Echo Park Lake, installed after homeless sweep, attacked by vandal

The chain-link fence that has confined Echo Park Lake for the last year, erected after city officials removed a homeless encampment, was taken down Sunday evening — but not by park rangers.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call of a person vandalizing the fences, which were installed as repairs were being made to the area, according to Officer Annie Hernandez. She said some 300 feet of fencing was cut and strewn along park grounds.

The nonprofit Knock LA chronicled the fence’s removal on social media. Hanging from a tree in the park was a panel of chainlink fence, with a sign that read, “Community DeFence!” Another sign read, “People’s Park LA Welcomes U.”

The fence has been a topic of contention among locals since it was erected last year, following the city’s sweep of homeless encampments in the park.

Echo Park was shut down in March 2021 for renovations, according to park rangers, and the fence was supposed to temporarily close the park while it underwent more than $500,000 worth of repairs. The repairs have been completed and the park has reopened, but a year later, the fence remained in place.

As of Monday morning, there were no known suspects, but park rangers were filing a criminal investigation, Hernandez said.