After the long Covid-confining winter, it felt wonderful to take advantage of springtime at our local state park. Masks still required, but with the wide-open shoreline we could keep our distance and still enjoy the beach. Several mornings a week, my son and I enjoyed long walks along the water amidst the beauty of Long Island Sound. It was peaceful and inspiring, full of wildlife, flowering dune plants, warm sun and ocean breezes along miles of undisturbed sandy beach.
But then Memorial Day came, and with it, humans from all corners of the state and beyond. The summer kick off was obviously a success as the state park was packed with beach enthusiasts, barbeques, campers, and more. I did not personally witness the crowds, but I know they were there because of everything left behind.
My son and I arrived for our usual walk and realized how the place had suddenly changed. Previously pristine beach was now freckled with cans and bottles, pieces of broken beach gear, bags and wrappers, and even dirty diapers! People had polluted the space and made it not only disgusting, but dangerous for wildlife. Dune plants had litter dangling from branches and all through the underbrush. The tide was grabbing garbage from the shore and hauling it out to sea. Birds and fish were no doubt about to be entangled and injured, even killed by human laziness and thoughtlessness.
How disappointing! How devastating! In one weekend a beautiful state park and refuge for wildlife had become a garbage pile. Sadly, it has remained that way throughout the entire summer despite dumpsters for trash located in every single parking area. The lack of respect for nature, animals, public property, and other people is astounding.
It should be so simple. Public spaces are shared by all—humans and animals alike—and should be respected as such for the benefit of all. What we haul in, we can surely haul out. Do no harm to the creatures that call a place home. I know we can do better. I know we can teach our children better.
