We may be well into December and it may be too cold for a swim, but many people still enjoy recreation on and around Moses Lake. There are several parks and trails around the lake that offer a quiet and scenic respite from daily life. Two of my favorites are Blue Heron Park and Neppel's Landing, behind Michael's on the Lake.

As summer became fall and, eventually, winter, the number of people I would see at Blue Heron and Neppel's declined drastically. But the amount of litter didn't. There's never been an excessive amount of litter in either park, but there's regularly enough to notice. In doing my part in picking up a stray can or bag, I noticed just how few and far between trash cans are in certain areas of these parks.

At Neppel Landing, there's a picnic table under a gazebo between the train tracks and the lake. It's a nice spot to sit and feed the ducks – or yourself. There is almost always litter there – cigarette butts, a fast food bag, a soda can. Littering is always the easy option, but cleaning up after ourselves shouldn't have to be difficult. The nearest trash can is about 100 yards away, across the bright green – but goose-poop-infested – grass, near where Stratford Road meets Broadway Avenue. From that point, there isn't a single other trash can along the entire path, going back toward the dock and well past it, toward Michael's.

Blue Heron Park provides an ample number of trash cans along its large parking area. However, one is conspicuously absent from the boat launch area. There's a "Please Help Keep Our Lake Beautiful" sign near the launch. Under it, you can usually find empty cans and other trash. While it's fair to expect people to clean up after themselves, most people want to get home and cook their catch after a day on the lake. Boaters have empty cans, extra bait and other refuse, but don't want to go searching for a trash can. A trash can conveniently placed near the launch would go a long way toward eliminating litter in the area.

Moses Lake Parks & Recreation Maintenance Superintendent Roland Gonzales said a limited seasonal staff makes it difficult to tend to the issue as vigilantly as they do in the summer, but did say, "We'll look at (those areas). If needed, we can get cans there."

The parks throughout Moses Lake always appear to be well-maintained, and I believe Roland Gonzales will address this issue, but it's up to us to do our part, as well. Nobody wants to see empty cans and bottles around our lake.