ENTRANCE RAMPS FROM 224 TO MANCHESTER ROAD

 

One of my friends told me the entrance and exit ramps from 224 to Manchester Road were messy, so I went there tonight.  I got off the freeway at that exit so I could see for myself, and it looked pretty good . . . until I stopped at the light.  There I saw a big pile of trash where somebody had rounded up all the trash and put it in one spot.  No garbage bag or trash can.  Just a big pile of trash!

I parked as close to the ramps as I could. I had no idea how busy Manchester Road is, AND HOW LOUD!  Car after car after car, and semi trucks too, flying right past me.

I think I was right about here when the sky opened up and ice pellets started hitting me on the head.  I thought I could stand a little ice, but then it poured down rain.  I kept focused on picking up trash, and I didn't know I was soaked until my shoes started squishing.

I filled up the first bag and then I found a great big trash bag and a hub cap.  

I stuffed all that in the bag and left it at the entrance ramp so Keep Akron Beautiful can come back and pick it up.  I brought five bags, not knowing how many I would need.

I needed all of them.

I cleaned the entrance ramp and under the overpass and headed for the exit ramp.

Here's the big pile of garbage I saw!  I'm guessing it's all the food and drinks people throw at the panhandler.  People think they're helping him by giving him food, but that's not what he wants.  HE WANTS CASH! 

There were all kinds of candy bars and energy bars unopened.  Water bottles unopened.  Hats, gloves, and a couple of trash bags, unused.  All his "Need Help" signs were there in the mud.

I filled up three trash bags and left them under the overpass to be picked up.  I hope Keep Akron Beautiful picks them up before they get ripped open.  I don't want to pick it all up again.

And when I was all finished, I took a picture of the exit ramp just as the sun was coming out.  I sure could have used that sunshine earlier!

What a difference it makes when trash is picked up.  

I picked up 2,299 pieces, but it seemed like so much more.