Pueblo City Councilman Defends Fencing at Bessemer Park

Councilman says fencing will help address crime and safety concerns in the area

Mar. 17, 2026 at 12:25am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Pueblo city councilman is defending the city's decision to place a fence along the perimeter of Ray Aguilera Park, also known as Bessemer Park, in an effort to address crime and safety issues in the area. The $400,000 project, funded by Colorado Lottery funds, will include features like sliding gates that park rangers can open and close to control access to the park.

Why it matters

The fencing at Bessemer Park has sparked some backlash on social media, with some comparing the look of the park to a prison. However, the councilman argues the fencing is necessary to address ongoing problems with homelessness, drug use, and other criminal activity in the park, which has led to significant costs for the city in terms of police overtime and other municipal services.

The details

District-4 councilman Roger Gomez proposed the fencing last October to help stop crime in the area. Gomez says the park has become infiltrated with homeless individuals and those dealing with drug addiction, leading to needles, destruction, and a significant drain on city resources. The fencing will be designed with open cuts and sliding gates that park rangers can open and close, allowing the park to be closed at night but open early in the morning for residents to use.

  • The fencing project was proposed by Councilman Gomez in October 2025.
  • The $400,000 fencing project is being funded by Colorado Lottery funds.

The players

Roger Gomez

A Pueblo city councilman who proposed the fencing project for Bessemer Park to address crime and safety concerns in the area.

Ray Aguilera Park

Also known as Bessemer Park, this is the public park in Pueblo, Colorado that is the focus of the fencing project.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“These folks back in the day could send their kids over the park. Now they're sending their grandkids over, and they're coming back with needles.”

— Roger Gomez, Pueblo City Councilman

“It doesn't look like a jail. I think it's gorgeous. It's gonna be designed to have open cuts. It's gonna be designed where they're gonna have sliding gates that the park rangers will open and close. At night, they're gonna close it down. In the morning, they'll open it early so that these people can send their grandkids here to play in the park. It's time to take our stuff back, and this is one of the prime places for my district.”

— Roger Gomez, Pueblo City Councilman

“At night, after the dark time comes, this is gonna be infiltrated with homeless and people who are having issues. The destruction that has happened to this park, and the amount of police overtime, and involving the health sector, and involving the municipal court system. If you did a cost-benefit analysis, the price for this fence would be pale in comparison after a year or so. And it should knock down this problem with the needles and the drug addicts and all that.”

— Roger Gomez, Pueblo City Councilman

What’s next

The fencing project is currently underway and is expected to be completed in the coming months. Councilman Gomez has suggested the fencing model could be expanded to other parks in Pueblo if the Bessemer Park project is successful in addressing crime and safety issues.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges cities face in balancing public safety and community access to public spaces. While the fencing project aims to address real concerns about crime and drug use in Bessemer Park, the visual impact has sparked criticism from some residents. The success of the project in improving safety while maintaining an open and welcoming park environment will be closely watched.