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Residents urge Pueblo to expand youth recreation, councilors point to existing investments
Summary
A public speaker and several councilors discussed youth recreation needs, mental-health supports and better facility access; council members noted recent investments such as a turf soccer field at Central High and an ARPA-funded teen center.
A speaker who identified himself as a church pastor urged the Pueblo City Council on Monday to make youth recreation a higher priority, citing safety concerns at some parks, high local youth mental-health needs and limited nearby, affordable recreation options.
The pastor described experiences running youth programs and said transportation, proximity and program cost limit participation for many families. “We have the highest rates of depression, anxiety, and mental health that we’ve ever seen before in our own children,” he said, and urged more community-centered, affordable facilities and partnerships with schools and local organizations.
Councilors responded by listing recent city investments and existing programs. Councilor Martinez noted the city contributed — along with the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority and School District 60 — to a turf soccer field near Central High School and said ARPA funds helped create a teen center at Central that operates after school. Other councilors referenced the city’s outdoor recreation coordinator position, Latino Chamber youth internship programs and free public transit for K–12 students.
Council members and staff identified several action points discussed during the session: auditing existing facilities and program utilization to see what is underused, pursuing partnerships with nonprofit providers and schools, and considering targeted investments in neighborhood-accessible recreation such as smaller multiuse turf or gym spaces. Parks and recreation staff were named as resources to coordinate facilities and bus transportation for programs; several councilors volunteered to meet with the pastor and other community organizers to develop a plan.
Why it matters: Councilors signaled support for youth recreation as a prevention and mental-health strategy while also emphasizing the need to measure current program effectiveness and coordinate city resources with schools and community partners.
What’s next: Councilors asked the speaker to share contacts and said staff (parks and recreation, community partners) would meet with him to explore concrete locations, transportation and program models.
