Pueblo Parks and Recreation crews teamed up with Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Community Corrections Services Inc (CCSI) to remove unsightly sucker tree growth along the fence line bordering I-25 and Mineral Palace Park, creating a safer, cleaner park that can now be viewed by the number of people traveling along the interstate.

Mike Taft, Urban Forestry Program Coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department, says that all the trees have been removed, with the exception of a few stumps. The tree planting should start sometime early this month.

CDOT provided the new portion of fence for this project and most importantly set up temporary traffic control devices to ensure the safety of workers involved. The Parks division worked with CDOT and CCSI to provide the labor.

This project will make it easier to maintain the fence line and reduce the amount of trash that has collected over the years. The completion of this project will hopefully discourage illegal activity, which has flourished in the past, by removing dark areas isolated from regular park traffic.
“This will also allow the many people travelling north and south on I-25 to see historic Mineral Palace Park and all the amenities, truly a feather in our community’s hat.” Says Taft.

Finally, the plan is to replant some trees along a portion of the fence line that are appropriately spaced as to not create another maintenance problem. The trees that will be planted were donated by Kenny G’s Trees last year and will be a valuable addition to the aesthetics of the entire Mineral Palace Park.