Playground

     Last week I took Em and Jake to the playground closest to our house. We have only been there on a few other occasions as they are just both starting to be big enough to ride their bikes there. It is actually a very nice area. There is a large playground area and a section of swings. There are a bunch of picnic tables with benches attached under pretty shady trees with a walkway all around them. A basketball court sits right next to the playground area. Beyond the court are a bunch of baseball fields, where Emily played with her little league team in the spring.
     What I couldn't get over was the amount of glass all over the walkway by the tables in front of the playground and covering almost half of the basket ball court. At least there wasn't much in the actual playground area. I know kids are kids and stupid when it comes to drinking and glass. I guess our park doesn't get patrolled or cleaned up too often so it makes for a great hangout for drinking at breaking glass at night. Since it is a Town park and there were actually pretty fresh garbage bags in the cans you would think they might clean up the glass. I guess not. I told the kids next time we'd bring a broom so I could clean it up. I actually wouldn't even have a problem doing it. It would give me something to do while the kids were playing. Normally I'd bring a book to read but sweeping would be a bit more beneficial for my kids and anyone elses. The problem is who knows how long it would stay clean once I did it. But no matter I'd still be willing to give it a shot.
     When the big boys were little we lived within walking distance from the elementary school. That was the playground we used to frequent most often. Sure, it would have it's share of glass now and again, mostly over summers, but it was never anything like what was at our home park now. I guess part of that could be because the school also had security patrols so there wasn't much hanging out going on there. I don't see why they can't have some sort of patrol at local parks. I'm not saying kids shouldn't be hanging out there at night, they need somewhere to go. But it would be nice if they didn't wreck the place for other people. That is the point of a public park right? It is there for everyones use. Unfortunately not everyone will use it the right way.
     Over in PJS, where I used to live when the boys were little, there were two other playground/parks we would go to besides the school. One was very small and just had some swings and a few other pieces of playground equipment. The other had a larger play area and was connected to a baseball field. We didn't go all that often but when we did I do remember small areas I'd have to keep them away from because of broken glass. They were only small areas though. Like those I saw in the school of a broken bottle or two. Not half as much as what I saw last weekend.   
     I guess that's what really bugs and disgusts me about our park. The only one we have in walking or bike riding distance. There was So. Much. Glass. I mean a ridiculous amount. Like a few cases worth of broken bottles. Either there was a big gathering with a lot of inconsiderate people breaking their bottles. Or it has been allowed to get to that point because no one takes care and cleans it up at all. Honestly, I don't know which one is worse. I do know that sometime in the next week we'll drive there to play so I can bring the broom with us. And some garbage bags too. I just have this feeling that if I swept it all up and just dumped the mess into the garbage cans at the park some genius would get the bright idea of dumping it all back out or something. So I'd rather fill my own bags and take it home to toss than chance it. I'll try to clean up the park while my kids enjoy the play area. It'll make me feel useful and do something good. And I won't have to worry about them hurting themselves while we are there. Maybe my little good will rub off when other people go. At least I feel better about it all if I try to do something and make it a little better if only for a little while for everyone. Then my kids can run around and play as their supposed to be able to do at the public park.