White Plains CitizeNetReporter - <i>King Komments:</i> Announces King Klean-Ups, Invites Volunteers

King Komments by Councilman William King, Filed 2/27/02, 3 PM EST: Councilman William King in his newest "Councilman-at-Large" column calls for citizen clean-ups of several environmentally sensitive sites.

I did 2 hours of Silver Lake lakeside cleanup this morning on the Dellwood property above the dam right off Lake Street. I got a lot accomplished. There is now a new pile of trash by the waste receptacle there for either WP DPW or County Parks to pick up. I even separated the recyclables (bottles and cans) from the rest in separate bags.

Some city DPW guys in a garbage truck drove by and stopped and stared at me and I waved but they didn't stop to pick up the stuff. I noticed the County's DOT/DPW shop is right across Lake St. - I would notice some of their guys looking at me in my chest waders and rubber gloves wondering what I was doing.

Calls for Silver Lake Shoreline Clean-up

I think cleaning up the whole White Plains shoreline of Silver Lake and all of the Dellwood property is doable in even one day with a good-sized contingent. Wading in the lake and picking up stuff piece by piece is slower than on regular dry land but is more fun and is very rewarding to look back and see a clean lakefront.

You can start to envision kids sitting on rocks and skipping stones hopefully this spring/summer. I think some of the overgrowth should be cut back too to allow greater public access.

Beer Parties Alleged.

The fishermen really leave a mess - so many beer bottles. If we do a cleanup it would really help if the County and the City could help keep the area cleaned up and do a little policing to cut down on the beer party goings on. I have a call into Andy Spano to discuss this among other things.

Join the Councilman.

I may be able to do another cleanup this weekend. If not this weekend, then next weekend. I'm also calling one of our scoutmasters if his troop would also like to help out. It would be helpful if more had chest waders - they make the difference. They go for like $75-$80 a pair if the county and/or city would spring for them.

Update on Bronx River Clean-up

Also, since our cleanup in the Bronx River a couple of months ago, I noticed a few new shopping carts in the River and asked County Parks if they could fish them out. A regular occurrence there.

Chatterton Hill Campaign

I am also planning a litter cleanup in the Parkway, probably near the Woodlands Viaduct and along the base of Chatterton Hill near the Bronx River Parkway with my daughter's girl scout troop on April 6 at 10 a.m. if you'd like to join us. Other Girl Scout troops and maybe the Boy Scouts will join us. Hopefully, some of the parents will also help out, lifting tires and heavy trash out of there.

You can mention it to the rest of the Conservation Board as well. What we started on the top of Chatterton Hill, the Boy Scouts and I have kept going, so it might soon be really a clean area worthy of its historical significance.

Greenway Next

I'd like to keep things going and also clear away the Greenway this Spring-Fall from Gedney Way north to Mamaroneck Ave. If we have to do it with all volunteers, so be it.

I cannot wait for the endless debate to ever end about doing this. Let's just do it and pile up all the tree branches and stumps in piles for DPW to chip up. Please help me recruit volunteers.

I just talked to Jack Harrington about this and we'll have to hold him back from trying to do too much. But we all want to see this done. As Jack and I agree, doing this is the latest form of exercise - very cutting edge - a calorie burner and tension reducer.

William King, White Plains Common Councilman writes King Komments and circulates it to media in the White Plains area, including WPCNR. He may be reached via e-mail at WKING@mtahq.org.


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