'Stoner Hill' Up in Smoke

The homeless population that used to spend its time on the hill in Commons Park in Denver has been moved. "Denver Parks and Recreation officials and Cohen’s Riverfront Park Association tried out different strategies to nudge along homeless adults and the young people, including a heavy mix of pot smokers and other drug users, who sat on the hill and surrounding areas for much of the day," John Murray reports for the Denver Post.

After city park officials installed nine security cameras and hired private security, the site became less attractive to the homeless who spent days there. Many in the neighborhood say they can see a big difference. Park officials also claim their efforts to activate the park with events helped change the population that’s using the public space.