Clearing the area known as the “Jungle” in the Pueblo

PUEBLO — Crews in Pueblo are clearing an area known as “The Jungle” this week. The focus is on removing trees and homeless encampments along the railroad tracks east of I-25 near Benedict Park on the city’s south side,

On Wednesday, it was amazing how crews stacked large piles of trees and filled dumpsters with trash.

“So far they’ve picked up 15 dumpsters,” said Mayor Heather Graham. “It’s a pretty bad deal, a lot of trash, a lot of camp leftovers,” Graham said.

Mayor Heather Graham said it’s time to clean up the area between I-25 and Benedict Park.

“It’s a really tough area to walk on and there are ditches running through it that have been completely packed with debris. I don’t know if that property was cleaned,” Graham said.

The mayor noted that this territory is private property.

“The city issued a bond for reduction. We’re doing an abatement process on the property, so we can be there and clean it up,” Graham said. “So it’s a smelter, so it’s very dangerous for people to be there. I think that area is causing a lot of crime in Euler and just in Bessemer in general, so I think it’s time to go in there and shed some light on that problem, and it’s very unsightly,” Graham said.

Eleanor Sheahan

The Colorado Department of Health found high levels of lead and arsenic in the soil several years ago, so crews work with the EPA and take precautions by wearing gloves and masks.

“I think people want to see the community clean and beautiful, and I think that’s really what the city, at least my administration, is trying to push forward,” Graham said.

The cleanup is part of a larger initiative by the mayor to clean up the city.

“I really hate to see Pueblo like this. When I was growing up here, there was no such thing. It’s a pretty sad sight,” Amy Martinez said.

Amy Martinez came to Benedict Park to check on a loved one she said was sleeping nearby.

“I was interested when I saw the move out because I have a very close family member staying here and I was concerned about what was going on with the cleanup and where the homeless people staying here would go. and what resources they have for them when they pick up where they leave off,” Martinez said.

Martinez adds that cleaning is a good idea.

“I personally do not agree that our city should look like this. I don’t agree with letting people just destroy our city,” Martinez said.

While Pastor Paul describes this situation as dire.

“I think it’s really hard here for the less fortunate people, the homeless, who stay here in the jungle,” Pastor Paul said.

According to him, about 50 people who do not have shelter remain in the jungle. But Mayor Graham said police only had to remove a couple of people from the area.

“I also went yesterday. There was no one without shelter. They all quit by the time the cleanup started,” Graham said.

She said people who are displaced should contact the Pueblo Rescue Mission if they need help. While Martinez urges his lover to return home.

“I hope this is a reality check. You don’t have to live this way,” Martinez said.

This is the last large-scale cleaning for this year. In 2025, Graham plans to clean up more areas of the city.
___

____

Watch KOAA News5 anytime, anywhere with our free streaming app available for Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA5 newsdownload and start browsing.