PUEBLO—On Monday, February 23, 2026, the City of Pueblo accepted a grant award of $91,000 from the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority (PURA) for the Benedict Park Lighting Project.
The funding received is welcomed news after the City of Pueblo and the Bojon Town Foundation have worked together to solidify Benedict Park upgrades. Benedict Park sits on 2.28 acres located on East Mesa Avenue near St. Mary Catholic Church and is located in the Colorado Smelter Urban Renewal Area.
“Pueblo Parks and Recreation is excited to see the Benedict Park renovations take place because this is a true community effort,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Steven Meier. “The City of Pueblo is thankful to have PURA assist with the lighting for the park after we received the initial grant from the Colorado Health Foundation. We know this will be a beautiful amenity for the neighborhood and surrounding community.”
In addition to the $91,000 funding for lighting, the Bojon Town Foundation worked in coordination with the City of Pueblo to receive the Colorado Health Foundation grant in 2024 for Benedict Park. The $545,457 grant received from the Colorado Health Foundation was for the Community Co-Created Outdoor Play Space which includes Benedict Park upgrades of new playground equipment, new concrete pathways for a trail, upgraded benches, landscaping and improving the surface of the existing basketball court.
"The PURA Board allocated $91,000 in November 2025 to support lighting upgrades at Benedict Park in direct response to an engaged community effort. This investment reflects our commitment to public safety and vibrant community spaces,” said Cherish Deeg, PURA Interim Executive Director. “PURA is honored to collaborate with the City of Pueblo, Colorado Health Foundation, and the Bojon Town Foundation to bring this project to life.”
Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is completing clean up and remediation efforts at Benedict Park prior to the park upgrades beginning. Due the nature of the smelter superfund site with high concentrations of lead and arsenic, additional clean up remediation is necessary to ensure the park is safe for construction and future enjoyment of the public.
Construction on the park is set for fall of 2026 with a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction and should be completed by the beginning of January 2027. Upon completion, the Bojon Town Foundation plans to host a grand opening celebration with Pueblo Parks and Recreation to invite the public to experience the completed project.