Yesterday my family went to the new state-of-the-art playground at Laurel Springs Park, in Charles County.
It’s a creative, lively playground to be used by all ages. This playground is state-of-the-art and something we should really be proud of having.
For those who don’t remember, the old playground was a mess and a safety hazard. One small example was the metal cable climbing web that had sprung wires sticking out that would cut you if you were not careful. When you called the county to report the hazard, they would come and wrap some duct tape around it for a permanent fix.
Anyway, back to the new! I spent part of my limited time with my grandchildren picking up plastic drink bottles thrown on the ground, plastic containers of cheese dip and nachos, straws, gum wrappers, food wrappers just thrown on the ground. Sticky stuff covered the tables and floor of the pavilion.
I do not want to place the blame because I am sure there are others who have contributed to the mess, but the only other parent was a mother with her 2 year old. Many children of about 9-12 were unsupervised. Most acted decently, but children don’t always do what they have been taught to do. 2 boys were drinking and eating when we arrived. My grandson and I played a while with them and they were well behaved for unsupervised boys. But my point is they both said they would never throw their trash down, but yet I saw them throw down 2 bottles and food wrappers when we first arrived. When I started picking up the trash later, I asked why people would mess up this nice place to play. They both said they never would. They did not lie because they were scared of me or because I accused them of trashing the place. Maybe they lied because I might have asked them to bend over and pick up their part and walk ten feet to the trash can. I just don’t understand the mentality of others who do not think twice of throwing their trash on the ground, on the side of the roads, in the water, and in parking lots. Who knew that you cleaned your car when you are out, by parking in the lot and throwing your stuff out the door? The worst are the parents or caregivers who change poopy diapers and throw it on the ground for it to be smushed or for you to step on. That’s human waste – a known pathogen!
Trash cans are everywhere. In the few places that don’t have trash cans, – can’t you hang onto your little bit and throw it in the trash at work or at home? Come on people – don’t throw it down because everyone does it. Don’t throw it down because you are too lazy to walk ten feet to throw it away properly. Don’t throw it down because we have an Adopt a Road program and someone will pick it up. Don’t throw it out because a litter road crew might pick it up.
EVERYONE, OPEN YOUR EYES. Look around you. A nice shopping center starts looking seedy and run down and unsafe with trash everywhere. You lose good customers and attract others who are oblivious to an ordered society. Trash along our roadways makes it look like we are an undesirable community, where you do not want to live. My family is always amazed when we travel elsewhere and the roadways are clean. The shopping centers are clean. Proprietors of stores do not wait for the landlord to clean things, but get out and sweep their sidewalks and curbs in front of their own stores. People do not litter because it is clean and well-cared for. Pride in the community is very evident and people feel welcomed and cared about. When these other communities do raise the money and get something nice, the whole community takes pride and keeps it clean and cared for. Some