Back in early May they started ripping up the playground across the street from my apartment. I was afraid that the one place nearby I could take my dog for her toilet would be consumed by another highrise of some sort. There isn’t another piece of turf (that isn’t someone’s veggie haven) for a good walk away. Walking several blocks to take her out wasn’t my idea of convenient.
Well, they didn’t build a highrise. Instead they simply revamped and updated the playground. It didn’t seem that old or worn out to me. It was in pretty good shape. But they put in a new one anyway.
And it’s even kind of cute. They put in the children’s equipment with a tropical fish theme on the ground, although they neglected to replace the swing or jungle gym – just a set of slides. The did, however, take out a bunch of useless, wideopen space and turn it into a small enclosed soccer field. Its getting plenty of use these days, too. If not for soccer, then nighttime badminton with an LED-lit shuttlecock.
Overall, they’ve done a nice job of it. It’s not even finished, though, as you can still see the orange cones on the far side entrance in the first picture. The picnic tables still have the foam wrapping on the benches and table-tops. The neighborhood was so limited in play space they most folks haven’t waited for any grand opening they might have and are just using the playground. It’s good to see it in use again.
The part that disturbs me, though, is the unbelievable disregard for their new park’s cleanliness. Barely in use a week and the ground is already littered with enough candy and snack wrappers to fill several bins. I’ve taken SaTang over several times and she’s more interested in whatever food she can find under the slide (and there’s plenty) than in using the grass to empty her bladder or bowels. They’ll think nothing of throwing down a plastic bottle when its empty or a food wrapper as they open and eat whatever it is. I’m not above telling someone when I see them throw trash down, but it’s a little like swimming upstream. I’m afraid I’ll end up being the “crazy foreigner” who nags about the litter.
When I was small, America was like that. Trash was everywhere along the roads. Beer and soda can tops were everywhere. Then there were commercials on TV with that Indian dude crying as litter was thrown from a passing car. America changed its ways, but not quickly. I’ve seen one commercial here in Korea that was similar, but I’ve only seen it once. I think it’ll be awhile before things change here. Until then, I’ll just have to resign myself to gently telling them they dropped something when I see them litter.