Pueblo West, CO

A Community with Room to Grow

Surrounding by Stunning Nature, this Community is Maturing into an Unparalleled Place to Set Down Roots

Originally envisioned as a quiet retreat surrounded by stunning mountain vistas and a scenic reservoir, Pueblo West has grown into one of southern Colorado’s most dynamic communities. With strong infrastructure, miles of trails, and a growing commercial base, it combines the best of small-town values and forward-thinking investment.

“Pueblo West has always been that affordable place that people, whether retiring or looking for a quiet community for family, have sought out,” remarks District Manager Christian Heyn. “Now we’re starting to see it grow its identity across Colorado.”

Building from the Ground Up

The Pueblo West Metropolitan District was established in the early 1970s to bring essential services to the area. “It was formed to ensure that the rural community had infrastructure such as fire, water, wastewater, and parks and recreational services that could then be developed as time progressed,” describes Heyn.

“It was a place where folks could have that type of lifestyle close to the mountains, the reservoir, and the city of Pueblo, with more amenities than a typical rural environment.”

The community was first centered around the Desert Hawk Golf Course, an anchor for what was originally a sparsely populated district. Over the decades, that vision of quiet living and access to nature has been evolving.

“Pueblo West has become the fastest growing community in southern Colorado,” Heyn relays. “It still has the rural vibe, with proximity to a lot of those locations, but now it hosts a much more robust infrastructure with investment in its essential and core services, while rapidly growing economically.”

The combination of rural advantages and easy access are second to none regionally.

“There’s a uniqueness to Pueblo West,” says COO Brian Egging. “We have the infrastructure here, we have the golf course, we have restaurants and retail centers, but we also have miles of equestrian and pedestrian trails, and we’re right next to the state park reservoir. It fits a lot of different lifestyles.”

A Growing Economic Landscape

Pueblo West’s layout is defined by McCulloch Boulevard, a loop that connects the district’s core areas and surrounds the golf course. Highway 50 cuts through the middle, providing access for residential, industrial, and commercial uses. “A lot of people don’t want to live next to a highway, so that’s where we’ll see our future major commercial growth and opportunities,” Egging details.

According to Heyn, Pueblo West’s next wave of growth is happening along several of its major corridors, where commercial activity is expanding. Development is accelerating along Joe Martinez Boulevard and the soon to be completed Medal of Honor Boulevard, which will create a direct connection between Pueblo West and the city of Pueblo. “Purcell Boulevard is an expressway that gives us access to I-25 and Highway 50, and then what the community itself recognizes as its cultural hub is the McCulloch Boulevard,” he explains. “There is also the development of the Purcell Exit (108) interchange with CDOT in the northeast of Pueblo West, where we may see an additional gas or rest station and commercial growth in the future.”

When it comes to attracting businesses, Pueblo West is actively looking for opportunities that make the district stand out. “It has always been a bit of a satellite of the city of Pueblo,” Heyn acknowledges. “We’re now exploring opportunities that are unique to Pueblo West. For instance, a Sprouts, Costco, or other type of grocery store might help with the identity.”

In addition, the district is on the lookout for opportunities that will bring more jobs to the community. Attracting restaurants and retail that reflects the needs of residents is also a priority. “We hear a lot of folks say they want Outback Steakhouses, restaurants that may be a little bit more upscale, less about fast food chains, and more about either personalized local business or some of those that cater toward a more comfortable community,” Heyn depicts.

Heyn shared that Pueblo County’s Unified Development Code (UDC), for planning and zoning, and Pueblo Means Business initiative have propelled Pueblo West forward in making it easy to do business in the district. “Pueblo West has benefited from a collaborative partnership with the County to begin streamlining business development in the area. The UDC makes it far easier and less restrictive for developers, and Pueblo Means Business has brought a lot of our permitting applications and processes into the 21st century.”

Investing in Infrastructure

Future opportunity depends on smart planning, and Pueblo West is rising to meet the challenge. “As we’ve grown, the infrastructure needs, especially water and wastewater treatment, have grown too,” Egging maintains. “Colorado is a semi arid state, so water is at a premium. The wastewater treatment facility is almost at capacity for the current demand, so we’re looking to expand that.”

The district is investing close to $20 million to expand its wastewater treatment plant for continued growth to meet the needs of current residents and comply with state regulations. “The main goal behind it is to allow us to continue to grow and serve our residents,” Egging stresses.

Housing in Pueblo West has traditionally meant single-family homes on large lots surrounded by open land, but the last decade has seen a change. “Recently, we have taken on multifamily development, whether duplexes or multifamily housing,” Heyn reports. “As far as residential, our goal has always been to basically accommodate where we can.”

Reliable services are another key focus of Pueblo West’s growth. The district’s new Fire Station 2, completed last year, was funded by a 1 percent sales tax that was implemented in 2021. “It’s on the southern side of Pueblo West,” conveys Heyn. With three active fire stations, and 11 to 13 firefighters on shift at any time, the new facility has improved response times across the district and reduced insurance costs for some residents.

Parks, Trails, and Recreation

For many Pueblo West residents, the great outdoors is a valued part of daily life. Bordered by Lake Pueblo State Park, the district offers countless opportunities for recreation, from boating and hiking to horseback riding and golf. “Historically, Pueblo West has been very limited in budget,” Heyn admits. “The area that has been most underfunded has been Parks and Recreation. The good news is a lot of decisions recently have allowed us to have funding available for services without increasing taxes.”

The district has approved plans for an indoor pool, with the potential for future expansion to a multi-phase aquatic center valued at $15 million, and a new dog park at Civic Center Park that will be more than twice the size of the original. Pueblo West is also turning nearly 100 acres known as Tract 317 into open space and another 504 acres on the north side for potential future parkland.

“All of these projects were identified in a parks master plan that was approved in 2024,” Heyn says. “In previous iterations, we never had the money to move forward so it was kind of a wish list. Now we’re actually starting to be able to tackle them.”

New and improved trails are also on the agenda thanks to the diligence of the district’s parks and recreation director. “She has taken full advantage of state and federal funding to help get us up to 28 miles of trails that go throughout Pueblo West,” Heyn expands. “We’re really excited to say that while those things are on the horizon, it wouldn’t have been possible without our team and we’re excited to see those kinds of growth opportunities for our recreational department.”

Egging sees these additions as an extension of Pueblo West’s culture. “We’ve always been very outdoor focused, given we’re next to the state park,” he says. “If we’re looking at private sector opportunities, things like fitness centers and structured recreation would probably be what we’d be most excited about.”

A Vision for the Future

As Pueblo West continues to grow, the emphasis remains on sustainability and long-term success. “Given our area and given my position, I almost always start my sentences with, ‘It’s all about water,’” Egging imparts.

“Making sure we can obtain and offer clean drinking water that’s safe for our citizens can be a challenge in Colorado. And we need that water so that we can support all growth. It’s a great place to live, we have a low tax base, and it’s really advantageous for a lot of citizens to live here.”

Looking ahead, Heyn points to Pueblo West’s forward-thinking approach. “We strive to steward our local government in a deliberate, sustainable process that’s playing an infinite game,” he asserts. “We want the successes we capture now to make it easier for our community to maintain for future generations.”

Over the next 18 months, Pueblo West’s goals are focused on completing major infrastructure and recreation projects, expanding water and wastewater capacity, and strengthening the district’s foundation for the next wave of residents and businesses. “We want anybody who comes and does business in Pueblo West to have a long-term project that’s going to be successful here,” Heyn concludes.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Pueblo West, Colorado

What: A rapidly expanding district with a population of 33,000

Where: Pueblo County, Colorado

Website: www.pueblowestmetro.us