Eloise and I were out running errands and drove past the Willston Multi-Cultural Center (of Falls Church, VA) Soccer field and playground. We were appalled by the amount of garbage in that area. We filled this big bag with what we found, mostly recyclable beverage bottles.
It is a wonderful thing that folks in a community should come together in public spaces to play soccer, have picnics and play games. But every citizen should take responsibility for what they leave behind…which should be NOTHING. Littering is inexcusable. Everyone should take responsibility for their waste until such time as they can dispose of the trash in the recycle or designated trash receptacle. Just leaving the trash behind is not acceptable.
The Willston Multi-Cultural Center should display DON’T LITTER signs around that soccer field which also needs recycle and trash receptacles.
The people who use those facilities should take pride in their community by not littering and picking up trash when they see it.
We live in a beautiful and vibrant community. But trash, garbage and litter are ugly and inexcusable. The act of littering is morally reprehensible and eats away at the precious social fabric that binds us all together because it is evidence of disrespect for others, the community, and the environment.
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I found this online (which they need to do all the time), a flyer for Willston Beautification Day. Folks are invited to come and volunteer to pick up trash in that area. Every day should be BEAUTIFICATION DAY. It would be great if the flyer also contained a NO LITTERING component and if the area were posted with NO LITTERING signs. No one should ever litter. Beautification Days should be for planting trees and flowers.
http://baileyscrossroads.org/downloads/BeautificationDay.pdf
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Willston Multicultural Center, 6131 Willston Drive, Falls Church, VA 22044
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., Saturday: 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Sunday: noon – 4 p.m.
Phone: 703-536-8943, TTY 711
Fax: 703-536-8968
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs/comctrs.htm
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Sing Project PUT Theme Song with Eloise and Emily
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THE PROJECT PUT THEME SONG: THIS LAND FOR YOU AND ME
Sing to the Tune of AMERICA: MY COUNTRY ‘TIS OF THEE
Words by Eloise and her mom Emily
This land for you and me
Protect its beauty
With Project PUT
Pick Up Trash you see
It’s simple as can be
Let’s make nature garbage free
And improve the world
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Addendum 8/16/2014
From our PUT Expedition at Willston Multi-Cultural Center Soccer Field and Play Ground, 7/29/2014
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/put-expedition-at-willston-school-soccer-field-7292014/
We sent a note and link to the post we wrote up to Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs. We got a nice not back from them regarding all the trash we encountered and then picked up:
Emily and Eloise,
Sorry for the delay but there were several agencies involved (and some staff on vacation) — while Neighborhood and Community Services operates the facility, the county’s Facilities Management Department’s contractor empties the trash cans near the soccer field, picnic pavilion and playground, and picks up litter on the ground on Monday’s, Wednesday’s, and Friday’s. Unfortunately, at times, the trashcans are empty and litter is scattered across the site. They said that they will investigate purchasing and installing signage that encourages individuals to put their trash in the receptacles.
It should be such a basic thing and unfortunately even when there are signs, some people choose to ignore them. We appreciate your efforts and wish that others were as committed to keeping the area litter-free. Thanks so much for all you do!
Sincerely,
Barbara XXXXXXX
Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
We at Project PUT sincerely hope that NO LITTERING signs do get posted and that people behave as requested. We hop that our society can come to understand that littering is not good behavior and for us to achieve a society that does not require a NO LITTERING sign for people know (and behave accordingly) that LITTERING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!
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Nice Note for Project PUT from Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2014/08/16/nice-note-for-project-put-from-fairfax-county-office-of-public-affairs/
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PROJECT PUT LITTER REFORMATION ACT
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2014/07/21/project-put-litter-reformation-act/
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PROJECT PUT ACTION IDEAS
https://projectput.wordpress.com/put-action-ideas/
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PROJECT PUT THOUGHTS
https://projectput.wordpress.com/put-thoughts/
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Project PUT Pledge
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/take-the-project-put-pledge-and-become-a-member-of-project-put/
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PROJECT PUT PIX
https://projectput.wordpress.com/put-pix/
Project PUT: PICK UP TRASH 