Apache Junction residents are grappling with the fallout of illegal campers following the closure of nearby public land. According to ABC15, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has shut down more than 1,000 acres to construct the new Goldfield Recreation Area, compelling campers to relocate. Locals are now troubled by campers moving into the Tonto National Forest, with reports of increased trash and gunfire disrupting the once tranquil environment.
Some residents, such as Nadine Johnson, have taken to collecting evidence of the disruptions, finding shell casings a mile into the forest. "Lots of gunfire, especially in the middle of the night, lots of trash that's just abandoned at these trailer sites," Johnson told ABC15. The Bulldog Canyon entrance, a popular access point for the illegal campers, has seen its gate lock cut in half yet again.
The issue isn't solely environmental. Colleen Campos, another local resident, is worried about her safety and that of her neighbors. In an ABC15 interview, she related incidents of her son being shot at and nearly being run off the road. "Honestly, I fear for my life every time I come out here," Campos said, expressing her wish for the land to be enjoyed for its intended recreational use.
The area's lack of long-term homeless shelters in Pinal County further complicates the situation. Residents like Johnson feel that underlying issues such as housing and mental health resources are at the core of the problem. "It's a housing issue, it's mental health resources and all of that stuff that really truly is the true problem that has created a lot of this," Johnson explained to ABC15. While the BLM has stated they are collaborating with community partners to assist those displaced, the pace and effectiveness of these efforts have yet to satisfy concerned citizens.
