The Colorado Springs Homeless Union has formally adopted through the City of Colorado Springs the stretch of the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail from Dorchester Park up to and including America the Beautiful Park. Despite a chilly rain, the group conducted its first cleanup of the trail on Aug. 10, collecting large bags of trash, much of which had been put into piles for collection by persons who camp along that section of trail.
“It’s trash that has been put there because there are not cans to put it in,” said Homeless Union member Louie to the Bulletin during the Aug. 10 cleanup.
Max Kronstadt, Homeless Union facilitator, told the Pikes Peak Bulletin the Homeless Union notified the City of Colorado Springs where the bags of trash had been piled through the GoCOS app.
“By adopting America the Beautiful Park and a section of the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail, the Homeless Union is trying to combat the harmful and untrue stereotype that homeless people in our community don’t care about the cleanliness of the environment,” Kronstadt said. “In reality, the unhoused community wants to keep our parks and trails clean but can’t because the City has failed to provide adequate trash cans and bathrooms.”
While the adoption of the trail section and organized cleanups are new, several Homeless Union members said they have already been trying to control litter.
“I clean up all the time where I’m at,” said Louie. “It keeps the HOT team…from showing up. If you have a trashy area, they’re going to show.
He also cited his care for animals and the environment as reasons he wants to see trash disposed of properly. And, Louie said, he was born in Colorado Springs and takes pride in cleaning up his hometown.
“This is my city and [the trash] looks bad,” he said. “So, I’m cleaning it up.”
Louis said that he has been homeless for the last five years.
“I don’t want to be out here six years,” he said. “It’s been a process; it’s been like a nightmare.”
White Wolf, who recently attended his first Homeless Union meeting, also came out to participate in the cleanup.
“What brings me out here is that we’re all one human family,” said White Wolf. “The love and compassion we share with each other is more important than any money we can ever attain. Love and light will lead the way, and it’s time for things to change for the betterment of all humanity.”
The City of Colorado Springs has guidelines for all trail adoptions including not modifying the existing landscape without the consent of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services staff. Adopters must agree to a one-year commitment of regular monitoring and litter control of the adopted site, and to submit required documentation about the cleanup efforts to the City.
Future cleanup opportunities will be posted to the Colorado Springs Homeless Union Facebook page.
