People share their thoughts about the repairs on the Arkansas River Levee

A historic art piece is being torn down for safety and people in Pueblo had their questions answered regarding the construction on the Arkansas River Levee and how the mural on it is being preserved.

People filled the Heritage Museum to hear the latest updates regarding the project on the levee and the record-breaking mural.

The mural is being taken down because the levee in its current state doesn’t fit FEMA’s standards. If repairs aren’t made, people who live and own a business around the levee will have to buy flood insurance.

Bud O’Hara is a Pueblo resident. He said the repairs are necessary to keep Pueblo safe.

“We need to recertify the levee. It is crumbling, it’s coming apart, and it has big voids under it,” he said.

Even though the mural is being torn down, there are people figuring out ways to preserve the art piece, such as through photos, books and possibly keeping pieces of the concrete.

“I think it is only appropriate if sections can be saved, similar to the Berlin Wall, and actually use them as public art and share them,” Pueblo resident Gregory Howell said.

The work on the mural is expected to be done within the next five years.