Joyriders Ruin Renovated Park

Sign welcomes visitors to the recently renovated park

New playground equipment adjacent to Hellbeck Elementary School

    Beckwood Park, located next to Hellbeck Elementary on Pueblo's South side has seen its share of tough times. After years of neglect, the park was recently renovated with the addition of new trees, grass, and playground equipment, offering families in the community a safe, clean place to gather. The tranquility has been short lived, however, as Beckwood Park became the second public park to be vandalized during the month of May. Sometime between late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning last week joyriders entered the park via the southern parking lot and destroyed large areas of the newly restored grass. The damage was most likely caused by an ATV, leaving behind visible ruts where the grass has been uprooted.

Joyriders' path visible in the lawn

Public outrage has followed the incident as approximately $250,000 of taxpayer money went into the recent restoration project. Pueblo Parks and Recreation estimates that it will take thousands in additional funds and numerous hours for park workers  to repair the damage, not to mention the months required for new grass to take root. Although the incident occurred at night, there is something unnerving about seeing the tires tracks beyond the new playground equipment as children play under the watchful eyes of their parents. No witnesses have come forward at this time. 

Damage incurred where the ATV uprooted grass