Iowa City 'occupy' protesters begin moving out of park

IOWA CITY - Occupy Iowa City protesters began moving out of College Green Park Wednesday afternoon.

According to members of the groups Facebook page, all protesters will be out of the park by the end of the night.

Earlier this month the city denied the groups request for a new permit. Protesters decided not to  appeal the decision, and were given until midnight on March 1 to leave.

Earlier this week, City Manager Tom Markus said he didn't foresee any clashes with the protesters upon the deadline.

City crews are expected to begin work to rehab the park on Thursday.  Markus said the city will remove any items protesters leave behind.

The group began "occupying" the park last October as part of a national movement to protest the government, which started in New York.