Park District Hopes Holiday Revelers Clean Up This Time
CHICAGO (CBS) -- After huge messes were left behind on Chicago's beaches over the Memorial Day weekend, the Chicago Park District was hoping people would clean up after themselves over the 4th of July weekend.
Cathy Breitenbach, director of cultural and natural resources at the Chicago Park District, said officials don't want a repeat of Memorial Day.
"Unfortunately, there was a mess left at some of the parks and beaches. We got it all cleaned within a day, but if everybody did their parts, we could put our resources to better use. So we hope that this weekend, when you're out celebrating the 4th of July, people will help us out," she said.
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That means putting trash, recycling, and hot coals in the appropriate bins, which are placed and marked at the city's 580 parks and more than two dozen beaches.
"Unfortunately, some people leave them [coals] at the base of trees, and that ends up killing some of our trees. So we try to remind people, please put your coals in the red cans," Breitenbach said.
The Park District is at its highest staffing level this weekend, and Breitenbach said crews prioritize cleaning up over other projects. Breitenbach said the district spends more than $4 million a year cleaning up litter at parks and beaches.
"Just think what we could put those resources towards if everybody did their part, and just put it in the cans," she said.
