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Resident urges city action after finding needles, glass and heavy litter at Chestnut Park and Riverwalk
Summary
A resident told councilors April 7 the Riverwalk, Bonney Park and Chestnut Park are littered with garbage, needles and construction debris, and requested more trash and sharps receptacles and coordinated cleanup.
A resident, Tara Russo of Whitney Street, told the council during the first public comment period April 7 that she found widespread litter, broken glass, needles and construction debris while walking the Riverwalk, Bonney Park and Chestnut Park.
Russo said she collected about 55 gallons of trash in roughly one hour with a partner and described seeing needles and construction materials on or near children’s play and basketball areas. She said the Riverwalk between the Hilton and Bonney Park had few trash cans and no sharps containers and contrasted Auburn’s parks with Lewiston’s Kennedy Park, which she described as better maintained.
Russo said the presence of needles and construction debris made her feel “scared” about taking young children to the parks. She asked the city to increase trash and sharps receptacles and to consider larger coordinated cleanups; staff said the manager would take notes and follow up.
A second commenter, Andress Morales of Summer Street, asked the council to address night-time drone activity, peeping and alleged gang activity on his block; Morales said he had contacted police but had not yet received sustained relief. City leaders acknowledged the concerns and said staff would follow up.
