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RESOLUTION NO. 14637
A RESOLUTION CHANGING THE NAME OF THE PARK
CURRENTLY KNOWN AS BESSEMER PARK AKA
MINNEQUA PARK TO “RAY AGUILERA PARK” AND
CHANGING THE NAME OF THE AQUATIC FACILITY
CURRENTLY KNOWN AS BESSEMER PARK POOL AKA
MINNEQUA PARK POOL TO “RAY AGUILERA PARK
POOL”
WHEREAS, Ray Aguilera was a proud native of Pueblo, who grew up in the
Bessemer neighborhood and after many years of service to the City which he loved,
passed away on May 9, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Ray was passionate about closing the opportunity gap for Pueblo’s
youth who were low-income, minority or who were otherwise disadvantaged which
caused him to establish a grass-roots organization in 1988 dedicated to providing college
scholarships; and
WHEREAS, that grass-roots organization became the Pueblo Hispanic Education
Foundation, that has made the promise of education possible to literally thousands of
students since its inception. Thanks to Ray’s vision, dedication and bold fundraising
abilities, the organization still thrives today and has raised over $4.1 million to help
eliminate barriers to education and a better quality of life; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, Ray founded the Pueblo Poverty Foundation whose mission
was to help eliminate the achievement gap, but this time with a focus on elementary
students; and
WHEREAS, that organization has created successful vocabulary-building
incentive programs which has helped move the achievement scores in a positive direction
in many Bessemer elementary schools; and
WHEREAS, Ray Aguilera also put on a Christmas extravaganza for many years
for hundreds of children and their families that included food, bike and toy giveaways and
stockings filled with treats; and
WHEREAS, with an unparalleled love for children, Ray loved to play Santa, getting
back some of the joy he so generously gave to the children present; and
WHEREAS, Ray was also widely known as an effective city leader, serving four
elected terms as a Pueblo City Council member; and
WHEREAS, Ray Aguilera was one of Pueblo’s biggest champions for economic
development and assisted numerous nonprofit organizations to grow and prosper with his
support; and
WHEREAS, Ray served on boards such as PEDCO, the Latino Chamber of
Commerce & Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, Pueblo Urban Renewal, Salvation
Army, Pueblo Area Council of Governments and was appointed by Governor Bill Owens
to serve on the state-wide Caring for Colorado Foundation, where he represented
Pueblo’s voice on a state-wide level; and
WHEREAS, on a national level, Ray brought prominence and honor to the Pueblo
community by being named the United States Hispanic Chamber Government Advocate
in 2007; and
WHEREAS, Ray received many accolades and awards, including the Citizen of
the Year by the Greater Pueblo Chamber and the Tutt Award for Leadership by the El
Pomar Foundation in 1996, as well as honors from the Pueblo African American Concerns
Organization, the NAACP, the Colorado State Fair Fiesta Day Committee and was named
the Latino Chamber Member of the Year to name just a few; and
WHEREAS, Ray Aguilera achieved all these incredible things while remaining
authentic and true to himself, which is what made Ray unique; and
WHEREAS, while he was bold and a bit unconventional in his approach at times,
no one could question Ray’s love and passion for Pueblo; and
WHEREAS, Ray’s love for his hometown was evident in his hard work and
dedication to the citizens of this community, especially those who are disadvantaged; and
WHEREAS, long before it was a national topic, Ray was a tireless voice for the
promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion; and
WHEREAS, Ray was often called upon at any time of the day or night to help a
family in need, or to put his muscle behind a community effort because Ray was known
for getting things done; and
WHEREAS, Ray Aguilera had a heart of gold and dedicated his entire life to the
community of Pueblo; and
WHEREAS, there is no one more deserving than Ray Aguilera to have a park and
swimming pool named in his honor and memory in the community he loved so much;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1.
The park currently known as Bessemer Park aka Minnequa Park shall be and
hereby is renamed “Ray Aguilera Park.”
SECTION 2.
The aquatic facility currently known as the Bessemer Park Pool aka Minnequa
Park Pool shall be and hereby is renamed the “Ray Aguilera Park Pool.”
SECTION 3.
The officers and staff of the City are authorized to perform any and all acts
consistent with this Resolution to implement the transactions described herein.
SECTION 4.
This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage and approval.
INTRODUCED June 14, 2021
BY: Robert Schilling
MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL
APPROVED:
PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL
ATTESTED BY:
CITY CLERK
City Clerk’s Office Item # Q-1
Background Paper for Proposed
Resolution
COUNCIL MEETING DATE: June 14, 2021
TO: President Lawrence W. Atencio and Members of City Council
CC: Mayor Nicholas A. Gradisar
VIA: Marisa Stoller, City Clerk
FROM: Dennis E. Flores, Member of City Council
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION CHANGING THE NAME OF THE PARK CURRENTLY KNOWN
AS BESSEMER PARK AKA MINNEQUA PARK TO “RAY AGUILERA PARK” AND
CHANGING THE NAME OF THE AQUATIC FACILITY CURRENTLY KNOWN AS
BESSEMER PARK POOL AKA MINNEQUA PARK POOL TO “RAY AGUILERA
PARK POOL”
SUMMARY:
Attached is a Resolution which renames Bessemer Park aka Minnequa Park “Ray Aguilera Park”
and makes a similar name change for the City swimming pool located within the park.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
Not applicable to this Resolution.
BACKGROUND:
Founder and visionary of the Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation and the Pueblo Poverty
Foundation. Four-time city council member. Unofficial Mayor of Bessemer. Fierce promoter of
Pueblo and our diverse culture. These are just a few of the ways that Ray Aguilera has impacted
the community of Pueblo in a big way.
Ray was a proud native of Pueblo, who grew up in Bessemer and attended catholic school.
Passionate about closing the opportunity gap for Pueblo’s youth who were low-income, minority
or who were otherwise disadvantaged led him to establish a grass-roots organization in 1988
dedicated to providing college scholarships. That grass-roots organization is the Pueblo Hispanic
Education Foundation, that has made the promise of education possible to literally thousands of
students since its inception. Thanks to his vision, dedication and bold fundraising abilities, the
organization still thrives today and has raised over $4.1 million to help eliminate barriers to
education and a better quality of life.
Ray did not stop there. In 2014, Ray founded the Pueblo Poverty Foundation. Again, his quest
was to help eliminate the achievement gap, but this time with a focus on elementary students.
The organization has created successful vocabulary-building incentive programs which has
helped move the achievement scores in a positive direction in many Bessemer elementary
schools. A tough guy on the outside, but a true softie on the inside, Ray also put on a Christmas
extravaganza for many years for hundreds of children and their families that included food, bike
and toy giveaways and stockings filled with treats. With an unparalleled love for children, Ray
loved to play Santa, getting back some of the joy he so generously gives to the children present.
All of these efforts are done by Ray out of the true goodness of his heart. He did not accept any
dollars for his work with either of these organizations and has many, many times funded them out
of his own pocket.
Ray was also widely known as an effective city leader, serving four elected terms as a Pueblo
City Council member. He was one of Pueblo’s biggest champions for economic development and
assisted numerous nonprofit organizations to grow and prosper with his support. He served on
boards such as PEDCO, the Latino Chamber of Commerce & Greater Pueblo Chamber of
Commerce, Pueblo Urban Renewal, Salvation Army, Pueblo Area Council of Governments and
was appointed by Governor Bill Owens to serve on the state-wide Caring for Colorado
Foundation, where he represented Pueblo’s voice on a state-wide level. On a national level, Ray
brought prominence and honor to the Pueblo community by being named the United States
Hispanic Chamber Government Advocate in 2007. Ray received many accolades and awards,
including the Citizen of the Year by the Greater Pueblo Chamber and the Tutt Award for
Leadership by the El Pomar Foundation in 1996, as well as honors from the Pueblo African
American Concerns Organization, the NAACP, the Colorado State Fair Fiesta Day Committee
and was named the Latino Chamber Member of the Year to name just a few.
Ray Aguilera achieved all these incredible things while remaining authentic and true to himself.
This is what made Ray unique. While he was bold and a bit unconventional in his approach at
times, no one can question Ray’s love and passion for Pueblo. It was evident in his hard work
and dedication to the citizens of this community, especially those who are disadvantaged. Long
before it was a national topic, Ray was a tireless voice for the promotion of diversity, equity and
inclusion. What many people do not know is that Ray was often called upon at any time of the
day or night to help a family in need, or to put his muscle behind a community effort. Why?
Because Ray was known for getting things done. Ray had a heart of gold and dedicated his entire
life to the community of Pueblo. There is no one more deserving than Ray Aguilera to have a
park and swimming pool named in his honor and memory in the community he loved so much.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost to replace park name signage will be paid out of the Council Contingencies Fund after
an estimate of such expenses is received from the Parks and Recreation Department.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
Not applicable to this Resolution.
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS:
Not applicable to this Resolution.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this Resolution is not approved, the name of the park and swimming pool will remain unchanged.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approval of the Resolution.
Attachments: Proposed Resolution