By Alliyah Sims | Fox31
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) — After nearly two weeks of pushing for answers and two years of neighbors dealing with a growing homeless encampment at the 6th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard interchange in Lakewood, crews cleared the site Wednesday.
Mounting trash, fires being started, needles found in neighbors’ backyards, and contamination in a waterway that feeds into the Platte River were all big concerns.
Cleanup started around 9 a.m. on Wednesday and lasted about 8 hours.
Brett Charbonneau, the neighbor who contacted FOX31, was amazed that there was finally some action. Charbonneau and his neighbor Bob Emulengracht were relieved after watching crews clear out the encampment site near their neighborhoods.
“The first thing I want to say is thanks to FOX31 and the problem solvers for helping us,” said Charbonneau. “Without you, this problem wouldn’t be getting solved.”
It’s the second time in recent years that the same area has been cleared. Charbonneau has lived in the area for more than three decades. We first spoke with him two weeks ago.