It might have been the Victoria Day long weekend, but that didn’t stop members of the South Hill Community Association from spending time cleaning up Tatawaw Park.
“It was awesome,” exclaimed Crystal Froese, association president. “For the long weekend, I was so happy to see how many people come out.”
Twenty people from the association and surrounding neighbourhoods slipped on their gloves and work boots to collect garbage from the pathways and other nooks and crannies. They started near the Seventh Avenue bridge and went into the park, almost to the south end near the main trails.
“We collected (12 big bags) of garbage and took a little bit closer look at the park and trails,” Froese continued. “It was really well attended … we have such a good community that way.”
Sometimes a trail doesn’t look as if it has much garbage, but upon closer inspection, it becomes noticeable just how much refuse is out there, she said. Discovered along the paths were old fast food containers, plastic bottles, cigarette butts, broken wine bottles, and the ubiquitous plastic bags.
Not everyone is a litter bug, Froese pointed out. Some of the garbage has blown in from other areas, such as the plastic bags. However, the association knows people enjoy visiting the park; visitors will come to have lunch or will stop by to relax.
“There’s just no reason at all they shouldn’t leave with the garbage they carried with them,” she said.
The South Hill Community Association will continue to press people all summer long to carry out what they carry in. Visitors can continue to enjoy a coffee or their lunch in the park, but they should take their refuse with them if they can’t find a garbage can. Residents should also encourage people not to litter if they see them doing so.
Cigarette butts continue to be a huge issue in the community, continued Froese. They are noticeable wherever there are people: in parks, on pathways, on the grass. Smokers should dispose of their butts properly.
“I’m not saying not to smoke, but I’m saying to be responsible where you put those out and to pick them up,” she said, pointing out those butts can eventually wash into streams and could wind up back in the food chain. “There is no reason to litter in this day and age … (There are) lots of garbage cans all over the city. There’s no reason to throw garbage on the ground.”
Besides Tatawaw Park, there are other areas of the municipality that could use some tender loving care, said Froese. She has spoken with the parks and recreation department and pointed out Spring Creek Park off of Simcoe Street could use help. There is also a location behind Sunningdale School that is a “trouble area” since it collects garbage that drifts in.
Froese added one of her goals is to have Moose Jaw become one of the cleanest municipalities in Saskatchewan.
