Mariposa residents clean up trash they claim was left by Richmond American Homes construction

On April 27, a group of volunteers from the Mariposa Neighborhood Association cleaned up trash in Mariposa’s Seasons at Monarch neighborhood.

“It looks like the county landfill out here, and that’s not the way Mariposa is supposed to look,” said Mariposa resident Jerry Corbin.

Thirty volunteers, including Pat Kilek,, president of the Mariposa Neighborhood Association, picked up trash that morning and placed all bags of trash in the front yard of the Richmond American Homes model homes.

“This effort is the last resort of a very frustrated community because so many parties failed to do the right thing,” Kilek said. “We are going to do this respectfully. We will not damage or enter private property or pick up construction-related materials. Bottles, cans, bags, wrappers, etc., are what we are after. We will not damage any landscape or structures during our cleanup. Even though Richmond American has and continues to disrespect our community with their actions and lack of action, we will behave respectfully towards their property.”

According to Kilek, 80 bags of trash were picked up by the volunteers.

The Seasons at Monarch neighborhood is a new neighborhood with many homes still under construction. Mariposa residents say the construction has produced a ton of trash that has not been picked up by Richmond American Homes.

“We have been after them to pick up after themselves for over a year now," Kilek said. “We decided enough is enough.”

Richmond American Homes declined to comment at this time.