Photo by Deb Gau Melissa Schwab, a resident of Broadmoor Valley Mobile Community, shared her family’s experiences with living conditions in the mobile home park. More than 40 people gathered in the park for a “Walk For Dignity” event organized by tenants.

MARSHALL — It was about bad roads, a lack of communication, and many other things, Pablo Tapia said.

“But what is most important is, this is about dignity and respect,” said Tapia, a co-founder of Asamblea de Derechos Civíles and one of the speakers at a “Walk For Dignity” through Broadmoor Valley Mobile Community on Thursday afternoon.

“The purpose of this walk is, we want to create a sense of consciousness in the whole community about living conditions in the park,” said Jesus Hernandez, president of the Broadmoor Valley Resident Association. This week, members of the Resident Association called on the city of Marshall to help by creating health and safety regulations for local rental properties.

“We aren’t asking for anything fancy. We’re asking for what’s right,” Hernandez said of the group’s mission.

More than 40 people, including city officials, Broadmoor Valley tenants and Marshall area residents, walked down a street at the mobile home park from its storm shelter to the main office. Residents were singing, and some were carrying handwritten signs with slogans like “Safety For Our Kids.”

The streets the group walked were rough, with lots of potholes. However, in some places, orange traffic cones marked fresh asphalt patches on the roadway. Along the way, the group passed mobile homes in different conditions. Some homes had protest signs in the windows — one read, “Residents Before Riches,” another “Can we all fit in the storm shelter?”

At the end of the walk, the group gathered to hear Broadmoor Valley residents speak out about their experiences. Testimonials were given in both English and Spanish, with the help of interpreters.

Under Minnesota statutes, manufactured home park owners cannot prohibit residents from peacefully organizing, assembling or exercising free expression, organizers said.

Several residents said the condition of roads in the mobile home park prevented school buses or even emergency services from getting into Broadmoor Valley. Kids going to school had to wait for the bus by the entrance to the park, which could be as far as half a mile away from home.

“Some of our children are not of age to walk” to the bus stop, or have special needs, one resident said. She said inadequate snow plowing at the park has also gotten residents’ vehicles stuck, and caused people to miss work and school this winter.

Another resident said she rented a home in the park, and her family ended up going without heat for a day and a night this winter, because maintenance wasn’t available to fix the problem.

Resident Melissa Schwab said the emergency storm shelter at Broadmoor Valley also had problems. Schwab said her mother has mobility issues, and the shelter door wasn’t wide enough for her wheelchair to enter.

Hernandez said the Resident Association had made several attempts to contact the owner of Broadmoor Valley, but without success.

“We just want answers,” another resident said. “And to the city, please help us.”

Barry Gronke, Jr., an attorney representing Broadmoor Valley, said the mobile home park is owned by Colorado-based SFR Inc. The president of the company is Paul Schierholtz.

Gronke said there had been efforts by management to reach out to the Resident Association, but those were also unsuccessful.

Gronke said Broadmoor Valley has been working with a contractor in recent months to maintain streets. The big issues with repairing roads at the park, he said, are the costs and getting the supplies to fix the streets. Snow removal is also done by Broadmoor Valley staff, he said, but during events like April’s severe snowstorms, the park contracts with local businesses to remove snow when they can.

Gronke said the storm shelter entrance was 36 inches wide, which was wider than state codes currently require.

Broadmoor Valley has both residents who own their manufactured homes, and residents who rent, walk organizers said. Misty Butler, a Marshall resident who has been working with Asamblea de Derechos Civíles and the Broadmoor Valley Resident Association, said the Resident Association represented 41 of the 52 homeowners in the park. Gronke estimated around 70 units in the park are occupied.

Resident Association member Christina Izquierdo said the group had three main concerns they wanted addressed. First, she said, was the condition of the roads in the park. Next was the condition of the park’s storm shelter. Third was 24/7 access to a bilingual representative of park management.

Organizers called on all Marshall residents to help their neighbors in the park.

Marshall City Council members David Sturrock and John DeCramer were both present at the walk.

“It’s listening for me, and learning what’s going on,” DeCramer said.

The two councilmen said the city may be unable to step in and fix things like privately-owned streets in the park. However, DeCramer said, there are other resources that might be helpful for residents.

“It needs a lot of work,” Sturrock said of conditions in Broadmoor Valley. But at the same time, he said it will be important to work on rebuilding trust between residents and park management.

Sturrock spoke positively about Broadmoor Valley residents, saying they were organized and motivated in their efforts to improve conditions.

Hernandez said seeing city officials and Marshall residents from outside Broadmoor Valley come to the walk gave him hope.

Broadmoor Valley Resident Association and Asamblea de Derechos Civíles members said their groups will be continuing to advocate for Broadmoor Valley residents. A meeting will be held at noon Saturday at Christ United Presbyterian Church.