To the editor:

The county’s decision to stop collecting garbage in parks flies in the face of the fact that tourism, on which this island is very dependent, is COMPETITIVE, and the destinations with the best experience win, both initially and with repeat travelers. Trashy parks create a terrible impression. Considering all the trash along our roads, I doubt “pack it out” will work.

If we want people to pick up their trash and dog poo, we have to make it easy for them. Otherwise our beaches will become a public health hazard.

Do we want kids playing in filthy sand and marine animals swallowing and getting tangled in even more garbage? How about hiring Island Disposal to pick up garbage when they do nearby homes?

Let’s get creative and rescind this bad idea before we create more problems to solve.

Zia Gipson

Art-Isle Studios