One of the perks for living in the city of Pueblo is its parks. Spread across the city, there are an estimated 86 parks, each with its own unique character. Many are traditional, bucolic and verdant, others landscaped more in line with 21st century water-saving architecture. But each has its own value and special quality. And this time of year, all promise to be used as much and as often as possible, says Pueblo Parks and Recreation Director Steven Meier.
“We’ve got all of our seasonal crews,” ready to answer the call, said Meier. Whether making certain that lawns are mowed and manicured or tending the rides at the city’s crown jewel, City Park, everything’s covered, he said. But this year, because of drought that has punished every part of the state or finances, also a blow to every municipality, the summer season has been approached in a slightly different way than in the past.
While drought has not had as severe an impact on Pueblo on some other parts of the state, it has forced it to reevaluate how things are done. “This year,” Meier said, “we’re trying to cut back on water,” by doing it things in a reasonable and sensible way. To that end, he said, the department will only be watering “an every three days kind of thing…trying to be more efficient.”
On a fiscal level, while trying to meet the recreational desires of city residents, there have been cutbacks on certain programs. “We did away with the tennis program and we’re not doing movies in the park.” Meier says this season’s budget has been reduced “15 to 20 percent.” Still, he promises, the city’s parks experience will still be pleasant.
One bright spot under Meier’s leadership is the facelift given to the city’s historic ‘Slab,’ an outdoor basketball mecca for anyone looking for a game. Surface areas for the courts have all undergone total renovation. But these courts, as a long ago and repurposed ad campaign might have said, are ‘not your father’s basketball courts.’ In fact, there may not be anything like them in the state. “It’s a different animal,” Meier said. The once uniform shade of concrete that was showing both age and wear, is now brand new and showing a totally different look. “We solicited artists, went through a judging program” and selected four artists to paint unique designs on each of the surfaces. “It was quite the endeavor and turned out quite unbelievable,” he said. The new designs have already won a few regional awards for originality and, Meier said, “we’ve gotten some writeups in national parks magazines.”
While everything is in place for a good summertime experience in Pueblo’s parks, there is one issue that might legitimately called an eyesore. But, Meier explains, it’s something that had to be done.
Lake Clara, the small body of water at the city’s Mineral Palace Park, had to be drained and will remain that way until it completely dries out and is ready, once again, to be replenished.
As Meier explains, the aqua life in the lake was dying, both plant and animal. The combination was creating an odor that his department was being told about on a regular basis. “Everybody was complaining,” Meier remembered. Draining the lake, which sits on the west side of Interstate 25 as you enter the city from the north, was the only choice.
Pueblo’s summer heat will accelerate the drying out process. But until it is completely dry and regular checks to make that determination show only dry dirt and not mud, work to restore it will be in a holding pattern. That could be months, Meier predicted. But once he is confident it’s ready to be filled and fish can be reintroduced, work will begin. The state’s Department of Wildlife will also play a role in restocking the body.
