Colwood resident Stephanie Renton brought her kids on their first trip to Mount Douglas Park on Monday morning only to find a disturbing amount of trash had been left by the dayB次元官网网址檚 previous park goers.
A staffer from Saanich Solid Waste Services was there with a garbage truck picking up a heaping pile of litter from beside the grassy areaB次元官网网址檚 garbage can.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 corn on the cob pieces, food and [a lot of] paper plates,B次元官网网址� Renton said. B次元官网网址淭he [worker] said every Sunday thereB次元官网网址檚 a pile of garbage left from a group of people that have a picnic there.B次元官网网址�
In addition to food scraps the picknickers left empty food trays, disposable cutlery, boxes, plastic wraps, bags and more. The mess was made worse by crows and probably raccoons.
The Saanich staffer told Renton heB次元官网网址檚 hoping the photo will reach the user group so theyB次元官网网址檒l be more courteous next time, she added.
A mess like this is a drag for everyone, the staff, the users and could be a danger to the local wildlife that comb through it, said Eva Riccius, senior manager of parks.
B次元官网网址淭he clean up for this particular mess was started on Sunday, but the crew couldnB次元官网网址檛 fit it all in the truck.B次元官网网址�
Saanich Parks sweeps the parks on Sundays and Mondays anyways as most garbage containers fill up over the weekend, Riccius added.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a good reminder to the public that parks are for everyone and other park users are impacted by a giant mess like this.B次元官网网址�
The message is to use parks responsibly please, and if you generate a lot of garbage, please pack it out.
B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 leave bags by the garbage can. If itB次元官网网址檚 not fitting, it shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be left in the park.B次元官网网址�
Riccius also added that itB次元官网网址檚 important the public call in to Saanich to let them know of incidents at parks such as this.
B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 be everywhere all the time, we appreciate it when residents can call us,B次元官网网址� Riccius said.
Reports can be made to SaanichB次元官网网址檚 main line of 250-475-5522.
reporter@saanichnews.com
