Crews are clearing trees and encampments in an area known as “The Jungle” in Pueblo

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

On Wednesday, 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 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 has placed a sequester on abatement,” she said. — We are engaged in the process of reducing emissions on the territory, so thanks to this we can be there and clean it up. 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 tackle that a little bit, and it’s very unsightly.”

Eleanor Sheahan

The Colorado Department of Health and Environment 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 improve the city.

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

“I really hate to see Pueblo like this,” she said. – This was not the case when I grew up here. It’s quite a sad sight… I was wondering when I saw the removal going on because a very close family member of mine stays here and I was worried about what was going on with the cleanup and where the homeless girls staying here were going to go, and what resources they have there for them when they pick up where they stay.’

Martinez said the cleanup 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.

Pastor Paul described the situation as dire.

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

According to him, about 50 homeless people remain in “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. Martinez urged her 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.
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