Future of troubled Dorchester Park in Colorado Springs remains unclear

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Just a block away from Sunday's multiple arrests under the Interstate 25 bridge at Tejon Street, is another area frequented by transients and people experiencing homelessness, and with similar problems.

Dorchester Park.

The park long ago ceased being a place for families to visit and enjoy because of frequent loitering, vandalism, and illegal activity; there's no longer a sign that identifies it as a park.

In 2019, the city fenced off two picnic pavilions at the park to prevent transients from sleeping overnight there and to discourage loitering and illegal activity; the fencing has since been torn open.

A few years later, officials placed concrete blocks in the parking lot to keep vehicles from staying there for long periods.

There have also been several homicides and assaults around the park, and illegal drug activity continues to be an occasional problem.

In 2019, officials said they would explore other options for the park's future -- including one suggestion to turn the park into a facility that would provide services to people experiencing homelessness.

In 2020, the city removed the park from its protected list of parks, hoping that would increase the options for other uses there.

However, no plan has been developed yet.

"I wouldn't be in favor of turning the park into something else," said City Councilwoman Michelle Talarico, whose district includes Dorchester. "We are facing budget cuts, employment hiring issues, and so I think it's a matter of us not having enough people to make Dorchester Park a priority right now -- although it needs to be a priority."

Eric Becker, maintenance and operations manager for the city's Parks and Recreation department, said that conditions at the park -- while not ideal -- are better than they used to be.

"Recently, we are working with and waiting on our new city leadership to figure out what their priorities are going to be, as far as going forward with this new administration," he said. "But there certainly is opportunity for using that spot and creating some different infrastructure that might be better-suited for that location."

Talarico said that she plans to ride along with the police department's Homeless Outreach Team this week to get a better understanding of the issues in and around the park.

Ian Almeida sat in the park Monday; he said that he's been homeless for the past year and supports the idea of turning the park into something else.

"There's nothing at this park," he said. "No restrooms, no picnic tables, no playground equipment. But many people come here because they have nowhere else to go, or they don't like the shelter (Springs Rescue Mission). Building a shelter that's a block away from a park isn't a good idea. Why not turn this park into a factory of some kind, that can pay homeless people enough to live on and get a good head start in life?"

After years without swings at the park because they were stolen or vandalized, a father paid Parks and Recreation to install one swing that is used by his autistic son.

"I said we'd be happy to install it as long as it stays there," Becker said.

The swing also could be a sign of hope that Dorchester Park's days as a park are not yet over.