Las Animas Removes Park Benches After Officials Cite Sanitation, Public Behavior Concerns

LAS ANIMAS — Several park benches in Las Animas have been temporarily removed after city officials said some of the areas had become associated with drinking and unsanitary behavior.

The issue came up during citizen participation at the Aug. 11 Las Animas City Council meeting after a resident questioned why the benches had been taken away.

Mayor Charles Shupe said the matter would be addressed later in the meeting.

During the subsequent discussion, city officials explained that the benches themselves were not considered a problem, nor was simply having people gather and sit on them.

The concern, officials said, was what was happening around some of the benches.

“We had an issue on the benches, people just hanging out there, which is not a problem,” Shupe explained. “But people would get drunk and would urinate and defecate on them.”

Council members said all but two of the benches had been removed temporarily. The benches have reportedly been cleaned and placed in storage while the city considers how to address the problem.

Officials also discussed caution tape that had been placed in the area, apparently to alert residents that the area was being addressed.

The benches have not necessarily been permanently removed, with the city continuing to consider how to handle the situation.

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