Vagrants fouling History Center entrance; help requested to fund preventive work
But all too often, over the past several months, the volunteers at the Old Colorado City History Center at 1 S. 24th St. have had to deal with an event that's as recent as the night before. And it's hardly memorable. “Currently we have a major problem with street people using the areas around our building for a bathroom, for sleeping and depositing their trash,” reads the first sentence of a letter to the membership by Old Colorado City Historical Society (OCCHS) Presidents Betty Baker and Kathy McBride in the new issue of West Word, the OCCHS' newsletter. “The problem stems from the bathrooms not being open Regarding availability to sanitary facilities, it could be quibbled that the OCCHS presidents are being too kind. While it's true that the permanent bathrooms in Bancroft Park across the street are only open when events are scheduled there, it does have a porta-john open 24/7. In any case, the area most frequently fouled is around the History Center's main-entrance door, which is off 24th Street and the alley between Colorado and Pikes Peak avenues. As designed when The OCCHS is trying to be proactive. Plans were already in place a year ago to change out the ramp walls, using a wrought-iron design that would allow more visibility and also be more sturdy. Now, with the vagrant problem worsening (at least once a week) and funds tight, the all-volunteer nonprofit will have trouble paying for the ramp upgrade without donations from the public “Last year we set aside money to replace our wooden handrail with wrought iron as its condition had become shaky,” the Baker-McBride letter continues. “Unfortunately that money was used for the flood problems we had in the basement [from last year's rains]. The iron rail will also prohibit people from sleeping and defecating behind the enclosed railing we have right now. Lighting will also provide less incentive and a more secure building. Floodlights will be mounted on the strategic areas on the outside of the building. “We love our museum and want to be sure that it is properly taken care of. We would appreciate any tax deductible donation that can be given at this time to use toward the completion of this project. Contributions can be mailed or dropped off at the center, indicating use for this project.” For more information, the center is open (free admission) Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone is 636-1225.
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