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| Storm Drain Stenciling | River Cleanup | Trash in Turnouts | The Water We Drink | |
by Kathy Meyer On October 9, a group including members of the Jacob's Ladder Trail Committee, Huntington and Russell Conservation Commissions, Westfield River Watershed Association, and Mass Highway Department met to formulate a plan to reduce thrash in the turnouts along Highway 20. These are being used as de facto picnic areas and beaches by people using the Westfield River for swimming, with a resulting trash problem. The three turnouts of concern are areas across from Countryside Furniture in Russell, the Whippernon Golf Course, and the Huntington Medical Center. We want to keep these turnouts open because they provide access to the river, but want to reduce the trash. The group agreed on the following: 1. No overnight parking signage (needs to state hours that turnouts are open) 2. At turnout across from Countryside Furniture, to keep cars within turnout only "no parking" signs on same side of highway and across the road from turnout. 3. Provide trash bags in dispenser with signage in English, Spanish and Russian, asking people to carry out their trash. 4. Signage prohibiting fires and charcoal grills at all three turnouts. 5. No trash cans will be provided. 6. Signs will be as few and as small as possible (to comply with highway department rules but keep the look as natural as possible). Possible removal of some of the existing signs at the turnouts. Two unresolved issues are getting the co-operation of law enforcement officials and getting volunteers to help clean the turnouts. We know that no matter what we do, there still will be some trash that needs to be picked up every week in summer. Are there any WRWA members who could help, maybe once in spring, once in fall and once a month during the summer? If so, please call me at 568-4252. |
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