I am a resident on Gilliat Street and live adjacent to the Lakewalk, which runs from 42nd to 40th avenues east. When walking on the Lakewalk recently I was appalled by the amount of litter from fast food restaurants, etc. in the stretch of Lakewalk behind Ordean and also the stretch from 40th going east.

There are garbage cans placed at intervals along the Lakewalk, but it is still obviously too difficult for some people to use them. There have been school lunch milk cartons, cigarette butts, Culver’s wrappers, Taco John’s wrappers, McDonald’s, used condoms, etc.

I try to pick up some of the rubbish when I see it, but I am concerned because the Lakewalk park is now completely littered with garbage. The Lakewalk is such a valuable asset to so many people that truly appreciate having such an accessible trail nearby their homes.

I am not sure what a solution could be, but may have to result in a “closed” lunch period, or the students having a group “clean up” day on the Lakewalk to see the consequences of littering.

I have e-mailed the school board, Mayor Ness, Principal Knapp and Asst. Principal Lien on this matter. I understand that the student council occasionally goes out to clean up the litter. I regularly go out an use the Lakewalk and have not noticed any improvement on the litter situation, if anything it has gotten worse. I am wondering what can be done about this problem and how it can be rectified?

This residential, Lakewalk park area did not have any litter before Ordean reopened as a high school. Garbage is blatantly thrown in the long grass by the main parking lot and also by the staff parking lot. To me there is no excuse for this. There are garbage cans placed at both of these locations.

Perhaps the students should remain in the building for lunch periods if this does not improve. It is a complete abuse of privileges that needs to be monitored on a more regular basis. Once every couple weeks is not enough. If students cannot respect nature and the privilege of open lunch periods, then there clearly needs to be a consequence.

I would encourage users of the Lakewalk to have a look around the embankment and grassy areas next to both the staff and student parking lots. Our once peaceful and clean neighborhood is being ruined by a problem that no one seems to be doing anything about. Anyone have any ideas/solutions?