ACTIVISTS are crying “vandalism” and “trespassing” while barring a homeless man from building a tiny home cabin in a public park.
Steve Irwin has been trying to put his plans to build a home in Dr. Joze Rizal Park, in Seattle, Washington, into action for months.
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The nearly 10-acre park sits between 12th Avenue and Interstate 5, on the west slope of Beacon Hill, and provides greenspace to the city residents.
By his own admission, Irwin first broke ground in the public park back in October of 2023, using an excavator to clear trees, reported local Fox affiliate KCPQ.
Since then he has been stopped from using the land multiple times, and even arrested on multiple occasions.
Back in February, he spoke to reporters about his journey and frustration in being stalled in building a home for himself.
“I’ve now moved five times,” he said.
“I’m tired, you know? Once I get close to building something, something happens.”
According to the man, he has chosen the land, believing there to be gold there for him to find.
Despite having multiple authorities and activist groups push back against his construction, Irwin fully intended to move forward with his plans.
His first arrest came in October after locals reported his alleged use of an excavator to begin construction.
Police in the area came and jailed him for a short period of time, before releasing Irwin who went right back to his building.
After the October debacle, the City of Seattle spent $15,000 to repair the damage Irwin caused with his first attempt at building.
LOCAL ACTIVISTS RESPOND
Andrea Suarez works with We Heart Seattle, a community organization that focuses on cleaning up the city and providing those in need with resources, and says they have tried to reach out to Irwin.
“Just today I brought him sneakers,” she explained in February.
“We’ve offered him work, housing, but he’s fixated on this ‘cabin in the woods.’”
She and her organization take issue with Irwin’s use of public property.
“This is trespassing. This is vandalism. This is destroying a public trail that’s intended for all to use,” Suarez said.
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She has grown increasingly frustrated with the city’s response, claiming that their interventions have not stopped Irwin’s construction.
“Since then, he’s just continued to destroy the park,” said Suarez of his first arrest.
“Where is accountability? Where is the mayor’s office? Park stewards have had thousands of hours of their volunteer work undone?”
“He’s just getting away with this.”
But her concerns go beyond the environmental impact, she worries for the safety of others.
“He has gasoline, propane, kerosene. He has open-air fires,” said Suarez.
“This is a ticking time bomb,” she continued.
THE CITY TAKES ACTION
In late February, the City of Seattle confirmed that it had sent crews to dismantle the structure Irwin had managed to build.
Lori Baxter with Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office said that the city’s care team addressed the “encampment” on February 28.
“The City’s Unified Care Team was onsite at Jose Rizal Park today to clean an encampment area following SPD engagement at the site.”
While deconstructing Irwin’s makeshift tiny home cabin, park stewards found a variety of concerning items.
“This man had four kegs of beer. He had at least three propane tanks,” said park steward Craig Thompson.
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But the list of amenities only goes on from there, as the power Irwin routed to his tiny home allowed for a variety of features.
“He had reportedly 40 gallons of gasoline on site. He had a generator. He had a television set. He had a washing machine. There was a great threat of fire at this location. There’s no other way to describe it,” Thompson went on.
The man also had a treadmill and television hooked up for use in the home.
According to Irwin, he believes he has permission to build on the land, although did not expand further on where that belief comes from.
Both members of We Heart Seattle and Park Services have tried to give Irwin services so that he would not have to build a home in the park.
“We put so much time and effort into getting him the help he needed but he was unwilling to take it. In the end, he just had to be removed,” said park steward Genevieve Courtney.
“We’re just happy this is over,” she added.
While clearing the site, Irwin was arrested for the second time in connection to his occupying and construction on public land including property destruction and possession of burglary tools.
THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM?
Despite Courtney’s belief that the matter had been put to rest, Irwin once again was caught trying to rebuild what the city tore down in February.
On April 12, residents in the area reported that Irwin was back in the park with heavy machinery, building up another tiny home cabin.
“We were scouting for Sunday’s litter cleanup when we saw Steve Irwin,” explained Suarez with We Heart Seattle.
After his last arrest, he was banned from being in the park by the court order.
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“He has a restraining order because of the felony level of property damage he has caused to Seattle parks,” said Suarez.
“He’s not supposed to be here.”
Seattle Police confirmed that Irwin was arrested for the third time after Suarez called in his presence at the park.
“This is the third time in six months,” said Suarez.
“Whoever keeps bailing him out is doing a real injustice, not only to the park but to Steve Irwin. He needs help. Help is not getting him out of jail and letting him come back here.”
At the time of his arrest, he was found with multiple IDs and was also charged with identity theft according to Seattle prosecutors.
Irwin currently has four open cases in the Seattle Municipal Courts.
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