(COLORADO SPRINGS) – The city of Colorado Springs has launched a major cleanup effort at Monument Valley Park, targeting trash allegedly left by the homeless community.
The cleanup, which began recently, involves the coordinated efforts of the Colorado Springs Police Department, Fire Department, and city workers. The initiative aims to address the accumulation of waste in the park and improve the area’s safety and cleanliness.
“If we didn’t do this with everybody involved, it would probably take several weeks to get to these areas,” said Sergeant Olav Chaney, supervisor for the CSPD’s Homeless Outreach team.
Amanda Smith, a community medical supervisor with CSFD, noted the collaboration with community partners like Springs Recovery Connection and Homeward Pikes Peak, stating, “We work very closely with our community partners.”
The cleanup operation is utilizing both heavy-duty equipment and manual labor to clear the targeted areas of trash. This effort is seen as essential due to the numerous complaints received from the community about the state of the park.
Sergeant Chaney highlighted the ongoing challenge of maintaining cleanliness in the area, noting that while previous cleanups have helped, new pockets of trash continue to emerge. “We’ve been able to maintain those pretty well, I think, and we’re going to continue to do that,” he said.
The teams involved in the cleanup are also providing resources for the homeless, aiming to offer support beyond just clearing the trash. This includes street outreach and medical assistance provided by partners like Fountain Valley Health Care.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has also joined the cleanup efforts, extending the initiative to highways and roads.
While the cleanup at Monument Valley Park is still underway, the collaborative effort is already making a noticeable impact on the community. “We’re hoping that we can continue that push getting these people the help,” said Sergeant Chaney, underscoring the broader goal of the initiative.
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