pueblo may see construction of combined softball complex and community solar garden

A currently vacant 34.6-acre site near the intersection of Troy Avenue and U.S. Route 50 in east Pueblo may soon see the construction on 15 of those acres of a new and long-awaited softball complex featuring an 800-seat grandstand.

The other portion of the site, which is divided by an arroyo, comprises almost 17 acres and, according to city documents, would be used for the creation of a community solar garden.

Members of the Pueblo City Council have advanced the project, proposed by District 2 Councilmember Larry Atencio nearly a decade ago, by voting to purchase the land in question for just over $196,000.

Once that purchase is completed, city officials say they will focus on developing the site and building the complex, a project that could cost around $3 million.

Funding for the project is expected to come from several sources, including the Great Outdoors Colorado program, which invests a portion of the state’s lottery proceeds to develop and build parks and open spaces.

By Garry Boulard