To the Editor:
All of us enjoy and reap the bounties of living here in a bucolic setting as well as sharing it with family and friends. Whether we choose to walk, run or bicycle along Lake Mansfield Road or swim in the inviting waters of the lake itself, we are constantly reminded of the safe, clean and stunning beauty of The Lake Mansfield Recreational Area. During the summer we all notice the increased usage of this area. Compared to ten years ago, the beach and the parking lot have from very rough estimates probably quadrupled in population. We can on some level be proud that it has become a desirable destination and that it is free and accessible to not only our neighbors, but it also serves people whose license plates read from New Jersey, New York and from Connecticut. Lake Mansfield was designated a recreational area several years ago and has since become even more well known for hosting a variety of activities, both in the water and on the land.
During my recent visits to the beachfront, I became dismayed at the condition that the beachfront lay in. There were colorful articles strewn across the sand and the grass those of forgotten beach paraphernalia all of which would be familiar to all us. There were in the neighborhood 100 articles of this discarded debris. There were pieces of trash and paper, empty plastic water bottles, pieces of broken goggles, many children’s sand shovels and buckets, articles of clothing, leftover food items and other items that you may imagine. Not only were they on the sand and the grassy area, but plastic toys and an empty water bottle also floated in the water. Items that had they drifted into the lake would become potential disruptors to the food chain for the fish, amphibians, insects and mammals that live there. As I began going about collecting these items and feeling a real sense of sadness, I began asking myself and my dear friend who was visiting from out of town…….. Who were these people that conveniently abandoned these items? How were they teaching their children respect for the environment? Was there someone or anyone “in charge” here at the end of the day? What becomes of a small sized public beach located by a lake when this many people, both local and from out of town, enjoy this setting?
I believe that most if us have developed a sense of stewardship for the Lake Mansfield area and beyond. When these stewards are not present or the need to “police” the area becomes an on-going development, what then? I am putting this out to all of us because I think that it has evolved into this currently and is not likely to go away. I would very much appreciate suggestions that may address this for the creation of future strategies. Let’s continue to make everyone a steward of The Lake Mansfield Recreation Area, from the shores of this small lake and beyond.
Nancy Maurice Rogers
Great Barrington
