At Veterans Park...
I sent a request to the Lands and Buildings Committee for a refuse container be placed at Veterans Park. I had met a couple there who had been walking to the beach and they picked up some garbage along the walking path and there was no place to dispose of it. They said they put some in a "Dogie" collection site nearby. They said they also noted garbage floating in the canal. They felt it would be good to have a container at Veterans Park.
I think it would also be good to have these at all the cabana's. You can get really nice heavy cement aggravate that are bear proof and hold a regular 30 gallon container. Maybe we could just start with one and see how that works. I don't know the cost, but would guess 500.00 I hope that just because I was the one asking, it would be denied.
Our member owned Parks and common grounds are real assets and should be an example of our community. All need to also be more user friendly. Our waterways are also great assets. I think seeing improvements in these areas would improve the member climate. Anyway, I keep trying. Maybe someday, we will see the parking area and path at Veterans Park paved.
43 comments:
I agree George. As a veteran, it makes me proud when we drive by the park. Do you know why they no longer fly the veterans MIA flag? It seemed appropriate for the location.
Just an additional FYI-
If you pick up beach trash, you can leave the bag beside the pet waste stations or up close to the dunes or near the restrooms at the approach. Russ drives around and picks up the trash a couple times a week. Beach trash disposal is funded by a grant from NOAA and is deposited in the big container up at the compactor labeled "beach trash". Surfside residents can also take their beach trash up to this container as well. Just be sure to only deposit the junk picked up on the beach.
Thank you to everyone who helps keep our beaches clean and safe!
Many people leave their bags of beach trash right at the Surfside path entrances. Beach side and street side. I think this program is why our area of the beach is so clean. Went to Seaview beach area and it was bad bad bad!
It would be nice if we could have some kind of containers for beach trash at these areas of the walking paths. Maybe some kind of brightly colored crate so it can be distinguished as beach trash?
I have seen many people at Veteran's Park and crossing over the HOA office/World Mark bridge and both areas would benefit from some type of trash receptacle.
I saw a kitchen fork in the water down by the tree debris chipper. Weird.
First, this anonymous authorization of leaving bags of beach trash at the trailheads or "NEXT TO THE DUNES" is NOT acceptible or authorized by the HOA.
No G St. Owners are going to accept that as policy or practice. Our place is next to a trail, and it is nice seeing people pass by, excited about getting to the beach. Lots of dogs on leashes, most well tended to. Some bags of pet waste are left along the trail, some probably accidental, an occasional poop on or by the trail.
Parks have largely limited trash recepticles, as Surfside has at the cabanas, because people stuff them full of their own garbage. One of my neighbors never uses the compactor, nor does he have pick-up. Go figure.
I agree that it is a good idea to have a recepticle or 2 here and there, so maybe a small dumpster bin across the drive from the office, so it's use would be on camera, and a bin that's locked down at the Vet's park and a couple of cabanas.
But it seems to work better to expect people to take it home.
Naming the park after George is a great idea, I think.
Surfside doesn't own the beach side or the state bathroom at the approach so you can stop worrying about that. And, as a dog owner, having no where to insert the dog poop bag because someone has loaded the receptacle with beach trash is considerably worse for those walking by and the person who has to empty the poop cans. I would rather see a bag of old plastic single use bottles in a bag than smell dog poop piles in bags laying on top and next to the container! And trust me, this happens!
I don't get you Steve, sometimes your comments just don't make sense and are 100% grinchy. Any plastic off the beach, in a bag, waiting to go to recycle or trash is a good thing.
We will just have to agree to disagree on this one.
P.S. Most dog owners leave the poop bag on the trail because they are coming back on the way home. AND, we are a community, if one dog owner hasn't picked theirs up on the way back, ANOTHER dog owner will help out and do it.
GEEZ, what concept, people helping people! And nature, and the environment!
I see beach trash all the time on G street, in bags, by the poop can. Not sure what your beef is. We, the people, who live in Surfside and on G street, are the ones who left it there. Climb on down there cowboy. We live here full time and keep this place pretty nice. Not sure why you are complaining.
We asked the park person who cleans the rest room on the oysterville approach about leaving beach debris. They said it was great, better than leaving it on the beach. We and others leave the beach stuff in tied up bags or loose if large beside the restroom. I know our walks in the past couple of years results in very little garbage as it used to!
Don't want to be a downer, but thought I would pass along that I had purchased a cement aggregate can for a commercial building. It became the local drop spot for garbage. There was a mess of garbage strewn about that missed the basket. It needed consistent attention. I finally donated it to the local park department. They were glad to have it next to the restrooms.
We have enough employees driving past ten times a day, there should be no excuse for any garbage anywhere.
Sorry Mr. G st, but there is no guarantee of trash-less views of the trail heads.
As I said but you are too intent on pontificating, many poop bags left on the trail are probably forgotten. I also said we enjoy living by the trail.
So you are seeing grinches where no grinches exist.
We don't worry about the trash that is sometimrs left at the poop station-don't pay much attention to it . But owning where we do, we have a right to an f*ing preference about garbage left where there is no recepticle.
Other than that, you're too self righteous to acknowledge what I said about many places choosing to tell people to pack out their trash, and abuse of recepticle sites is just a fact.
If you live in Surfside, you don't have any excuse, let alone the right, to be leaving beach trash near my parking area. Take your stuff home. You can still feel real proud of helping take care of a shared resource.
There are always those who will abuse anything. That is no reason to do nothing. Even with trash cans, we will still have to do some picking up after others. If there is an issue of trash left by trail heads or any other place, then assign someone to pick the damn stuff up. To hear some of the comments, you would think there are piles of trash everywhere.
I live on the road to the compactor and you would think there would be garbage all along the street that had blown off garbage going by. Very seldom do you EVER see any. Number one, members are responsibly transporting their garbage and number two, local people walking or living nearby, pick it up. I think this is evidence that we have more concerned and caring people than other areas.
All I am asking for to start, is a garbage can at Veterans Park. One that looks nice in a park setting. See how it goes, then go from there. Maybe, just maybe, a kid or adult, would throw their empty water bottle in the respectable rather than over the bridge rail. And people who walk by would not have to stuff it in a dog poo collection thing.
We have good people living here and most want to do the right thing. Can't we give it a try without all the naysayers?
PS...I do not want my name on Veterans Park. It is there to honor the Veterans, not me. I do agree with whoever said it...Get the MIA flag back up and replace that ugly light on the pole. There should be a LARGE decorative downcast light there. That would not interfere with the neighbors, or those driving by.
George, the new group will do their best to get Vetetans park paved. We have 8500 budgeted for a water truck, there is no excuse we cannot pave this park! Take care, hope you have an excellent day. It was so nice to meet you and bring you flowers.
Everyone here seems to agree that a few trash bins would be good, but need to be emptied often and monitored somewhat.
But anonymous people authorizing leaving bags of "beach trash" near the dunes are out of line. That's private property. Abuse of recepticle sites led to the BOT removing bins in Surfside a few years ago.
I've seen beach trash sit for a week or more at the poop station. There is no recepticle for trash, so there is opportunity for birds and such spreading it around. It is also unsightly just feet from the street.
We're not inventing the wheel, so know that it needs to be administered efficiently. Cape Disappointment has stopped using trash cans, and has a very few compactors. Traiheads never have trash bins anymore.
Surfside trails and other facilities are mostly used by the members. Many live here and even more own here. Mostly all want to keep this place neat and attractive. To compare us to state and national parks, is comparing apple to oranges. We (surfside) have the means and will to keep things neat. Unless you live here full time you don't really know the members. We care, more than other areas. That's why we have covenants. I don't know why I have to keep saying it. "We have good people here". I would not put a large trash bin anywhere because it says..put large trash here. A regular size 30 or 60 gallon would work just fine. As I said before, sure, there will be those who will abuse it, but most won't. We are Surfside, and just a cut above the rest. At least, hopefully, that is the direction we will now head. Don't sell these members short, they are not crumbs or riff raff. They are "GOOD PEOPLE".
Again, Just because there are those that will abuse and take advantage of any program, is not justification to not do something. We have the means to administer a simple program of controlling trash.
I don't know what's gotten into you Steve, but really, the hostility is palpable. This is a great community with volunteers picking up other people's trash. Not sure why this is such a rub for you but honestly, your attitude about it is scary. Come around in March and April and see what is happening on the beach. Come see what washes up from the ocean. During the spring months, it is often safer to bring these bags to street side so the efforts are not redeposited on the beach. This is not unauthorized and obviously IS endorsed by the HOA, hence, the placement of the NOAA granted dumpster AT THE COMPACTOR!
I don't know why I bother responding to you about this. Sometimes, you are just difficult to like sir.
Don't fret to much about this, (although I know you will). I'll be sure not come here and trigger YOU with our activities to keep this place wonderful any more. BYE.....Try and have a nice day!
I'm pretty sure there's an authorized organized effort of volunteers called GrassRoots Garbage Gang. It is a vigilant group that covers the entire pen, with hundreds maybe thousands of volunteers. Never seen a bag of beach trash or any trash for that matter, anywhere on this peninsula longer than 24 hours. No one needs to get bent about this. Cheer up, this is a great thing!
There will probably be someone who will come on here and word whip the hell out of me for saying this but I got to thinking about all of the HOA park areas and wonder if there's a reason why none of the areas are paved. All of these parks are near the waterway and when areas are paved or concreted, it blocks rain water absorption. Additionally, the chemicals in concrete and black top might create additional toxicity to the already problematic waterways.
OK, just a thought, Let the beating begin.....................
They are a wonderful group for sure. But, it's not only them, people who live here full time, part time members and just plain visitors also pick up after themselves and others. It's called beach time and beach life. I think many don't know all the work that volunteers do to keep the beaches and other areas clean and neat. Just one of the secrets of living here.
I love it that I can park at the Oysterville approach and walk up the beach. Because of the dunes and distance from the houses, I can quietly walk the beach and only one there is the surf, God and myself. It refreshes the soul. How fortunate we are, especially those of us here full time. Another simple joy is the winter sun on wet pine trees. The green sparkling foliage is so beautiful. We need to preserve it forever.
11:51 Your point is valid, but, A few small paved areas does not compare to the many roof areas and septic drain fields near the waterways. Removing foliage around waterways is a bigger concern. The entire Surfside area West of the ridge drains into the canal and North of Oysterville Road, into seabreeze Lake. Just the drain off of the 315th bridge by the office, would produce more drain water than the paving of the parking area and path at Veterans Park. Why is it we can always seem to find more reasons to not do something, than to do something? Same seems to be with the trees.
10:55....I made it clear that the trail is not a problem for us, and the only hostility I expressed is the anonymous authorization of leaving bags of beach debris at the edge of the dunes. That is PRIVATE PROPERTY. Get it ?
You're reading in concern on my part which I never expressed. Nothing "wrong with me", so your imagination is getting in your way. I said that I don't pay much attention to the poop station, and only said that any new recepticles would need to be taken care of. The truth really bugs you doesn't it ?
There are organized beach clean-ups that provide pickup of the bags. But there is no community-wide policy to leave crap in the dunes OR at the poop station.
Wow, your comments are just so hostile. Not sure why, but like you said, you are right again, there is NO POLICY, so go ahead and leave the beach trash where you have been and we will gladly pick it up.
Thank you for your efforts in keeping the beaches clean!
ummm, the beach belongs to the STATE OF WASHINGTON. Not sure why you think the dunes are private property? Homeowners only own up to mean tide, which does not extend to and through the dunes. Imagine if they did? I'm sure the dunes would be plowed down by many if so owned.
Don't blow a fuse dude, really, it's a bad look. Not gaining any fans with the aggressive tone.
"Mean Tide is on the Ocean side of the dunes, so yes, we do own the dunes on our side of the trail. That's what "mean tide" ownership means. There's a zone of about 50 ft.from the average high tide line east that is agreed to be shared with the public, so there needn't be any barriers, and the private owners are not permitted to alter or build on it.
You just keep grinding away with the false narrative. Your intention is to aggravate. Way to go !! My look versus YOUR LOOK....I still talk sense, you seek to aggravate.
It's cranky members like you who make me hate it here. Definitely makes me hate this blog but don't know where else I can get the information I need to help others.
It's too bad this has, once again, become the mean steve cox blog.
Guess I'll just go my own way and let you all do this without me. I can't take it anymore.
I see Surfside employees driving by my property 10 to 20 times a day, I really believe anyone of those trucks could stop at a beach access or park and empty a garage can or grab a few bags at a beach access. I’m sure they could get keys to the compactor if they don’t already have them. If you are paid to drive around then stop and help cleanup the community that employees you. I do like the field employees at Surfside!
You are pitiful. You make yourself look like such a fool in front of George. I'm not by any stretch, mean. Your big bag of hate comes from somewhere other than the blog. Take it with you when you go.
Most conversations can go somewhere positive with a little patience and the desire to steer it that way.
Excuse me there Stevie, but since you are talking about looking foolish, let's. Didn't George have to delete your comments elsewhere when that famous temper got out of hand towards people who came on to wish him well and give thanks? Seems you are one of the last people to lecture someone about hate. But of course lecturing is part of your shtick.
Let’s calm this down! Why do remarks have to get out of control? Use a little self control and give George some positive vibes that he needs now! One of the very best people I’ve ever known , grandma Hudson, used to say “if you haven’t got anything good to say, don’t say anything”
Let’s keep it civil and constructive!
I said what needed to be said, so no regrets. I admit to George's greater patience and kindness. We know each other well, so I'm glad he did what he thought was best. No biggie.
I think we could summarize: The suggestion about trash receptacles inspired some comments about them attracting garbage (big surprise) - it was suggested they be monitored by Surfside field employees - there was anecdotal reporting of personal experience with trash which led to emotional venting. The blog host makes a strong argument for the benefits of this idea and his confidence in Surfside owners, pointing out that the private nature of our neighborhood differs from public spaces.
It would feel better to take a hammer and pound your thumbnail than to try and fix this hot mess.
Gotta go now and pick up some beach trash to pile up next to the dunes for pick up.
You can thank me later for cleaning up your private property.
Cheerio, have a great day.
So many assumptions based on little or no evidence. We often pick-up garbage on the beach and on the trail, and appreciate all efforts to pick-up junk on the beach. We also pick-up bags of pet waste left on the trail, often inadvertant I'm sure, and scoop same at times.
You should only clean the beach up to serve the greater good and to make a contribution to everyone's happiness. You aren't doing it for me specifically, and recognize that I have a right to expect bags of trash be deposited in designated recepticles or taken home, unless an organized pick-up is in place. Why that is considered hateful or outrageous is beyond rational explanation.
For God's sake, All I am asking for is a garbage can at Veterans Park. Is that asking to much? Can't we just start there and not solve all the garbage problems in the world. Do we have to make a mountain out of every mole hill? Some people need to get a life and get out of ours.
Hmm. Curious if there is a common denominator throughout the controversial postings. Is there a poster who seems intent on causing disruption? Is there a poster who must comment on all matters, often calling names or responding in a condescending manner. Is there a poster who must have the last word on all subjects? Inquiring minds want to know.
George....Why would the community put only one garbage can out in the community ? While most everyone would like to say "Sure George!", it IS a larger subject.
But one garbage can placed at a low traffic location doesn't constitute a discussion. I would support it as part of a larger project to pave and make other improvements such as a large expansion of the plantings, such as a dozen or more rhodies and other flowering bushes.
I would support it as a plan to put fortified can enclosures at a few different sites. It was once that way. Can it be done differently and more successfully ? Such an effort would reauire frequent monitoring or emptying to try and prevent messes.
I didn't comment on this until someone suggested the traiheads have trash cans. I said the same thing. It wpuld need to be taken good care of.
The number of times Surfside employees drive by trailheads is immaterial. They have their work to do. It would need to be a designated duty 2 or 3 times a week.
Steve, In my lifetime of working with my employees and the public, rather than eat the whole apple, you have to take a bite at a time. You have to be willing to compromise on things you want. Sometimes you have to prove what you are asking for. Any disrespect will kill what you are trying to do at the start, be it right or wrong. When you back someone in a corner, you have to give them a way to get out and save face. If you don't, any further progress is lost.
Yes, I think there should be trash receptacles all around Surfside. To be done right, as you suggest, would be costly. My thinking is to get one and see how it goes. You are more likely to get approval on a small expense than a large one. It is that bite in the apple I was talking about.
I have favored all trails be paved, but have been trying to get only one done off 306th. Another bite to show the benefits. Some might call it "a game", but it is how you get things done.
I love our employees and have great respect for their abilities on most things, but not all. As for them having time, if managed right, there is plenty of time to get everything needed done.
That all being said, There are some that I have no respect for. For me, they have proven to border on evil or a sick mind. I just put those kind out of my life. I will not waste my time and mental well being reacting to them. I know it is wrong to hate, so I just try to have pity for them. I feel sorry that some life events have made them so bitter and mean spirited. I just move on from it.
Working with this HOA has been frustrating and disappointing at times, actually most times, but a small win once in a while is better than none at all. Others may see it differently than me, and that is their right. Minds are changed all the time, including mine. Sorry Steve, my answer is almost as long as your comments. lol
I appreciate your points and agree in general, though I'm not making a proposal, so much as throwing a bunch of ideas out there. I think the Vet's Park can be a place to beautify just to create an attractive eye catching spot as people enter the community on I St.
Paving can get expensive, but gravel could be compacted in the short term, eliminating puddles. Or maybe 3 can enclosures such as the Vet's Park, Main Office, Twin Lakes ?
The community has money to spend, but the given project should offer something to get enthused about. One lonely garbage enclosure in a light traffic area isn't quite enough to gain traction, and the park could stand to have more plantings. Your work was a great start, and an important sentiment worth building on.
Light traffic area? I would guess from my observations, there is probably more foot traffic to the beach than any of the Surfside beach trails. Probably more cars pass this spot than any in Surfside. Not sure what you are trying to say.
Yes, George. We use the 306th approach every time we walk to the ocean, as do my neighbors.
It would be nice and convenient to have a trash can, although I do agree the veterans park needs more shrubs. We always pass someone coming or going and often stop to chat.
I'm sure the new board members are reading this and will make an effort.
My opinion 😁
I'm not in any decision-making role, so I'm not intending to say anything important. You apparently are more informed as to traffic, foot traffic in particular. That's good, but I am happy to promote the investment into the spot whatever the scope.
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