Clean up of common areas/wetlands?

I was just wondering if there has been/will be a scheduled clean-up of all the trash in the common areas and wetlands? When out walking, I can't believe the amount of trash I see. If there is an organized clean-up, I'd be glad to be a part of it.
A couple of weeks ago, there was a huge piece of styrofoam on Truro Parish Rd., looks like it probably fell off of a truck or something. It was breaking into pieces each time a car ran over it. Today I saw it, in many, many pieces in the wetlands area between the (invisible) Dunkin Donuts and the community center. It was there along with many other pieces of trash that probably get blown by the wind into the water.

 

Another area that looks absolutely horrendous is the trail between the townhomes on Village Drive and the new Southern Walk shopping center. My wife and I were walking there a couple weeks ago, and I was astounded how trashy the surrounding woods looked. I assume that much of it was from the construction at the shopping center. But since Van Metre is responsible for the development there too, shouldn't they have someone cleaning this area up? It looked BAD!

 

Funny you should bring that up. My wife and I were just walking our dog this morning, commenting on the same thing.

Most weeks, I take our Campers out with trash bags in our neighborhood to pick up trash. It's a good, meaningful activity for them and they actually enjoy being down on the rocks near the water.

We will most likely be out this coming Saturday afternoon, so maybe we'll take them near the Dunkin Donuts area.

Another idea we had that I know some people do already is to carry an extra trash bag while walking your dog. I picked up a Jack Daniels bottle this morning thrown right off DeMott. I figured as long as I am going to be picking up my pup's poop, I can pick up other crap along the way

 

did someone say dunkin donuts?????

 

"Be the change you want to see in the world"
We always pick up as we walk.

 

Both of these areas wold be under the jurisdiction of the Commercial Property Association (van Metre) to clean up. I'll drop them a line.
Cliff

 

Thanks, sunnydog, you've inspired me. I'll take a bag along on our walks and pick up trash and teach my kids to do the same.
Cliff, thanks for passing this on to Van Metre. I hope they take some action. I can pick up stuff on the walking trails but the wetlands area will require at least some hip waders or possibly a boat, depending on the water's depth, a large net, and several willing participants.

 

So is the cesspool ditch behind Poole Ct. (off old Waxpool just past the Vet) considered a "wetland" or a drainage ditch?

 

This is a great idea, pick up trash while picking up your dogs poop. I'm all in for that. Now, how do we get people to pick up their dogs poop?!? It's gotten so much worse lately, esp. along vestals gap towards the townhouses. There are trash bins with poop bags available and funny enough, I always see poop right in front of the bag stations. How hard is it to reach over, grab a bag, and pick it up?? Come on, it's called respecting that others walk here also.

 

The response from Van Metre:

We are having it taken care of ASAP. Thanks Cliff.

 

Here's one group that organized a cleanup day for Broadlands:

The birds were chirping, the daffodils were blooming, the willows were
budding, and ARGHHHH! There was litter along Stream Valley Park! It
MUST have all blown in on windy days. None of the Broadlands residents
would have intentionally put it there! Junior girl scout troop 4878
came to the rescue! Armed with gardening gloves and trash bags, seven
girl scouts braved the drizzle and worked for an evening, picking up
trash along part of the trail, and helping to keep Broadlands beautiful.

 

That's not part of Broadlands. When we were looking for a house we looked at one being built on that street and it had two strikes against it. One, it was not part of Broadlands. Two, it had that disgusting mosquito breeding ground behind it.

 

Exactly the same for us. And this one has been on the market for quite a while. Big backyard but just beyond the fence is the drainage ditch filled with icky water. Gee, I wonder why it hasn't sold???

 

Im going to bump this old topic because of my experience over the weekend. I too was walking my dog on the trail between the townhouses and the Southern Walk Center (or whatever it is called nowadays) and noticed alot of trash back there. I began to wonder if I did all the footwork to get a day for people to come out and do a trail clean up, would anyone actually get off of the huge patoots to do it.

 

If you organize, I'd help (date depending, of course).

I'm a bit afraid that with Spring arriving, there's a ton of poison ivy out there, but long pants and boots can protect against that....

 

Hey! There are PLENTY of Boy Scout Troops in the area. All Scouts need service hours to get their rank. How about we get them involved?

 

I ventured out on Earth Day, doned gloves, long pants, and muck o' lucs and several garbage bags. I only filled one bag though with plastic bags (shredded) our landscaper doesn't pick them up they mow over them, plastic milk jugs and detergent boxes. I also sank ankle deep into the "bog" - it smelled quite earthy to say the least. I continue to remove garbage when I see it, that is, if I'm not suited up for work. My neighbors on the other hand will let it sit in their front yard and not bother to pick it up. What's up with that!

 

I picked up a entire grocery bag of trash just walking to Glory Days last night.
I think it says a lot about how lazy we can be if we are paying a good amount of money to live in a nice place, yet are trashing it at the same time.

And on the topic of laziness, the whole parking lot around harrris teeter looks like a battle field strewn with grocery carts. There were litterally carts ALL over the parking lot. Is it too much to ask that people take there carts back to where they belong?

 

I think people feel that if they pay fees then why should they clean up their own neighborhood while at the same time they put their recyclables out and don't weigh down the "blow aways" nor flatten the boxes, plastic jugs, etc. It's irresponsible and lazy - that's all. Least of all secure your garbage bags by tying and use the lid that came with the bin!

 

I'll see what if I can fit the organization of a clean up "crew" into my schedule. It shouldnt be too much of a hassle meet somewhere on a a saturday or sunday morning and pick up some trash. Sometimes things like that take on a life of there own and become something people look forward to. Like a club or something.

Maybe clean up the trails during the day and poker at night would work to drag some people out. Who knows.