Community members discuss future of Pueblo neighborhoods in EPA Superfund site

The future of three south side neighborhoods in Pueblo was the main topic at a session Saturday.

The Eiler Heights Neighborhood Association in Old Bojon Town hosted a meeting where people could share their ideas on how to upgrade the Bessemer, Grove and Eilers neighborhoods during and after the Environmental Protection Agency’s cleanup of the areas.

Demetri Barton, who lives in the area, said he was concerned when he found out the three neighborhoods were declared an EPA Superfund site because high traces of lead and arsenic were found in the area.

“It scared the heck out of me. It made me wonder what the heck did they allow to happen in our communities,” he said.

The contamination was caused by a smelter company that operated in the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

But Barton is coming up with ideas to improve the areas.

“We want to put grass in, flowers, trees. We want to rejuvenate the parks, make them safe for the kids, put grass out there at the soccer field,” he said.

Barton joined other neighbors to brainstorm ideas. Some of the ideas include building a community center, putting in more street lights and fixing up old houses.

“What we’re trying to do is come together and get ideas of what people can envision for their neighborhoods through this process and into the future,” Eiler Heights Neighborhood Association in Old Bojon Town President Pam Kocman said.

The ideas from Saturday’s session will be shared with the EPA for its community visioning workshop that is set to happen later this spring.