Meadowbrook resident urges El Paso County to clean, secure drainage area near Peterson Road after reported crime and trash

A Meadowbrook-area resident told the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners on May 13 that a county-owned stormwater drainage area at the southeast corner of Peterson Road has become a persistent site of trash, dumped vehicles and alleged illicit activity, and asked the board to take immediate steps to secure and remediate the site.

The resident, who identified themselves as Reyes Salcedo, said neighbors have called the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office repeatedly over the past year about the site and that deputies’ presence has not addressed what the speaker described as “the core issues.” Salcedo said an incident that included reported shots fired on May 9 highlighted delays in multi-agency response and raised safety concerns for families in the neighborhood.

“Within the wooded section of this county-owned property, there has been a persistent and troubling presence of trash accumulation, illicit drug activity, and unauthorized individuals using the area as a hangout,” Salcedo said during the public-comment period.

Salcedo said zoning and planning staff told residents the land falls under county jurisdiction and asked the board whether the site could be remediated and converted into a small local park. The speaker also asked whether runoff has created environmental hazards that would affect safety or the feasibility of public use.

Chair (El Paso County Board of County Commissioners) responded that staff would collect Salcedo’s contact information and follow up on the concerns raised. “We’ll make sure that we are able to follow-up on that,” the chair said.

The board did not take formal action on the request during the meeting. Salcedo asked for immediate cleanup and security measures and for guidance on how residents could participate in creating a safer neighborhood space.

Details provided by the speaker included reports of abandoned vehicles (the speaker said a motorcycle remained in the field), repeated calls to law enforcement, and a reported shots-fired incident on May 9. The speaker asked the board to clarify whether the site suffers runoff contamination and whether remediation would enable public use.

The public comment occurred during the board’s public-comment period; no staff report, timeline, or budget for remediation was provided at the meeting. Commissioners did not schedule a follow-up item during the session.

Residents seeking updates on this concern were told staff would follow up directly with Salcedo.