| Author |
Message |
    
TomD
Citizen
Username: Tomd
Post Number: 542
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 11:09 am: | 
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I live about a five minute walk from Maplecrest park and, especially this time of year, it's nice to walk with my (just about) 3 and 6 year old son and daughter over to the park to play in the playground in the evening. It isn't the newest or best playground in town, but it has all the basics.
So I did just that on Saturday and Sunday and both days the playground was strewn with garbage. There is one garbage can in the playground and it was overflowing with trash both days. By Sunday evening there was enough garbage on the ground to fill another trash can.
They were two lovely evenings and it was nice to walk to the park, but I'm not going to take my kids to a playground littered with trash. From now on we'll have to get in the car and drive to a playground where the garbage gets picked up. |
BGS
Supporter
Username: Bgs
Post Number: 1127
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 1:23 pm: |
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TomD- Perhaps you should call the parks and shadetree division of the town or the maintenance unit and tell them of your complaint. I would imagine that there is a reason for what you witnessed. Maplecrest is a lovely park and I would want to walk through it too if I lived near it.
Hope that you find a solution.
BGS
PS-I would imagine that the people who collect trash in public receptacles in our town have a Monday thru Friday job. |
juju's petals
Citizen
Username: Jujus_petals
Post Number: 290
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 1:36 pm: |
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I just left a voicemail message for Roger about the trash in the Maplecrest playground, which was pretty bad on Saturday evening. Looked like the garbage can in the playground hadn't been emptied in some time. And, maybe they need more of them.
The receptionist at Town Hall indicated he is who you should speak with about the trash in the playground. Here is his information from the Town website:
Roger R. Brauchli (Director of Recreation and Cultural Affairs)
Recreation and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 973-762-8120
Fax: 973-275-1458
Email: recdirector@twp.maplewood.nj.us
Address: 124 Dunnell Road
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Wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 2705
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 1:50 pm: |
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Actually to reach the Rec Dept directly call 763-4202. I would wager a few bucks however that regardless of what the receptionist at Town Hall said, the Rec Dept will tell you it's the job of Public Works. I don't necessarily agree with that but I bet that's what they'll say. They'll also probably tell you to call Public Works as opposed to them saying thank you for pointing this out and informing the appropriate person. Can you tell I'm a bit pessimistic regarding our Rec. Dept? |
juju's petals
Citizen
Username: Jujus_petals
Post Number: 291
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 1:59 pm: |
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Wendy, that's almost exactly what Roger said. That Public Works is responsible. He also indicated that he'd already passed along my update. And, that garbage gets picked up on a M,W,F schedule.
But just in case, I made a call to Public Works as well. Spoke to a nice woman who confirmed that folks either had picked it up or would do it today. She also passed along my detailed description that the garbage was kind of strewn around the playground equipment to a "supervisor."
So, the next time (I hope not!) this happens, we should call:
Gary Lenci (Director of Public Works)
Public Works
Phone: 973-762-1175
Fax: 973-762-3624
Email: dpwdirector@twp.maplewood.nj.us
Address: 359 Boyden Avenue
Now feel responsible for checking this out on my way home. . . . anyone want to report back now?
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amelia
Citizen
Username: Amelia
Post Number: 50
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 7:49 pm: |
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I walk my dog through there early every morning and yes it was bad this weekend. I'll see the cans have been emptied tomorrow morning if not, thanks for the info and I'll call as well. |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 1273
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 8:37 pm: |
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How about the mess that the kids who hang out on the hill leave every day? That really gets me. I assume most people talk to their kids about littering, and I'd be willing to bet most of these kids parents have had these conversations with the kids that hang there, but for whatever reason it's not sinking in. I'm hoping one of these days I'll see them in orange jumpsuits cleaning up after themselves and all the other slobs who throw their trash in that beautiful park. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 896
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 8:07 am: |
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We've got toddlers and thoroughly enjoy all the Maplewood parks, except for Maplecrest, which is overrun with kids to old to be in the toddler section, and I coulndn't bare to see my 2 y/o knocked over by a 9 y/o again....
I guesss I had to get that off my chest since we're griping about this park...I don't think there's anything you can do about it though. |
juju's petals
Citizen
Username: Jujus_petals
Post Number: 292
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 8:26 am: |
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We couldn't visit the Maplecrest yesterday but we did drive by and it looked like the can in the playground had been emptied. Can anyone confirm that the garbage around it playground was also picked up?
It also looked like there was good baseball game being played.
And, Smarty, you can speak to a 9-year about being careful around 2-year olds. Or, speak to the person watching the 9-year old about it. It is actually possible to do this in a polite way. Even if you get a rude response from the child or the adult, you have done something about it. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 897
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 9:31 am: |
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Juju, that's an interesting way of spinning it to make it seem like it's my fault,, and yes, whay you say is true; but I'd prefer not to be in a position to have to control other peoples kids, and would rather go to the other, equally nice, yet more docile parks in the town.
It's not an isolated incident requiring a one-off conversation....if I took on the responsibility of speaking to all the older kids running around the toddler areas in Maplecrest, than I'd not enjoy any of the time I had with my own children. |
mjh
Supporter
Username: Mjh
Post Number: 666
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 10:03 am: |
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Smarty;
I, for one, am quite sympathetic.
Though my kid is now 10, I remember this issue none-too-fondly at a neighborhood park in Brooklyn when he was a toddler. The equipment was all toddler sized, but some parents always let their big kids run wild.
You're right. Sometimes it's too much, and just a lot easier to walk away...especially when your time with the kids is limited to non-office hours.
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Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 3153
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 11:10 am: |
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Just keep in mind that sometimes "toddler sized" doesn't mean that the playground is made for toddlers. Most playgrounds have a sign that indicates the age for which the equipment is appropriate. My kids were on the "5 and up" equipment at 2. My 2 year old would get intimidated by 7-9 year olds playing near her, but that was definitely not their fault.
My girls are very small at 5 and 3 and I avoid all of the bigger parks because they do attract the older kids. It is also too hard for me to keep track of them both by myself in a larger park!
Not saying the older kids don't play on equipment too young/small for them, that definitely happens too (just like big kids in the baby pool which drives me nuts!). |
toad
Citizen
Username: Toad
Post Number: 144
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 5:32 am: |
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The park was policed for garbage both Friday and Monday and all the trash cans were emptied at those times. The day camp that utilizes the park during the week also picks up litter and bags it. The trash would never be there at the end of a normal work day. We make every reasonable attempt to keep on top of the litter problem, which is quite difficult this time of year with all the use that our parks get. Since we do not work weekends and the camp is not there on the weekend the litter remains until Monday. If anyone has any concerns or suggestions please contact me.
Todd Lamm
Supervisor of Parks and Shadetree
973-762-1175
shadetree@twp.maplewood.nj.us
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juju's petals
Citizen
Username: Jujus_petals
Post Number: 294
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 8:17 am: |
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Thanks, Todd. The garbage I observed was in the early evening on Saturday. Must have been a big day. More than any kind of complacency in cleaning, I thought the park (and playground especially) might just need another garbage can. |
jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1777
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 8:59 am: |
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Funny, the trash cans downtown (Maplewood Avenue) were overflowing this weekend too. I wonder if something happened town wide with trash pickup this weekend. |
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