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Residents demand action as Territory Park suffers recurring trash, graffiti and damage
Summary
Residents told the board Territory Park near King Soopers suffers repeated trash, urination, graffiti and equipment damage during school days; parks staff confirmed extensive cleanups and said cameras and signs reduced graffiti but did not stop trash or safety risks. The board asked staff to pursue solutions with the school and sheriff's office.
Multiple residents urged the Ken‑Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District to act after lengthy public comment about ongoing trash, vandalism and sanitation problems at Territory Park (behind King Soopers).
"They have wrecked that park," resident Carol Meyer told the board. She described sewage, urination, torn up rocks, frequent glass and feces in play areas, and repeated damage that forced equipment repairs. "I'm asking you to help," she said, adding that rangers currently pick up trash multiple times a day.
Parks staff confirmed the problem and said the vandalism routinely required lengthy graffiti removal and posed safety risks to maintenance crews. "The parks team has left the park three times a day to clean up trash," a parks staff member said, and staff described incidents where high‑school‑age individuals became confrontational, which limits staff's ability to patrol or enforce behavior.
Staff said cameras and signs reduced graffiti in some cases but did not fully solve the trash problem, and that many signs were torn down. Board members and staff discussed options including increased coordinated patrols with Jefferson County sheriff's deputies, targeted school outreach and engagement with school security, additional trash receptacles and picnic seating, temporary closure or removal of specific playground features, and resident engagement to help monitor the park.
Resident Terry Bisbee urged the district to prioritize neighborhood maintenance and said he opposed removing playground equipment without broad community input. "I am not going to remove $80,000 of playground equipment," a board member said, noting the expense and urging further community outreach before any drastic step.
Staff said they will continue to evaluate operational options, coordinate with the school and sheriff, and return to the board with implementation proposals that balance safety, property protection and neighborhood preferences.
