Stoneham Wasteland

Broadway street. A pleasant, suburban road, lined with playgrounds, soccer fields, homes, and woodlands.  On my early morning walks, I have been lucky enough to spot New England Cottontails, wild turkeys, black-beaked woodpeckers, and red foxes.

Anyone who lives in the area will be familiar with the patch of woods and brush opposite Cerrone soccer field-it is one of the last stretches of forested land in this part of town.  Sadly, it has been treated as a dumping ground, littered with cups, broken beer bottles, rotting trash bags, old televisions, and even a shattered fish tank.  

While small, this stretch of land is home to native wildlife, and across the street from playgrounds and playing fields.  I've called the Stoneham Conservation Commission several times to at least remove the big appliances, but nothing has been done. While I don't think we will be able to remove the litter from this land, I think we can avoid filling it with more trash.

I'd like to request Stoneham and Wakefield residents to think before throwing their trash in the woods. Remember that your broken beer bottles can hurt animals, and the chemicals you dump can contaminate ecosystems. Please act responsibly and dispose of appliances and toxic chemicals at the Stevens Street recycling center.