SF America... a dissapointment
Associated parks:
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http://community.webshots.com/photo/72619155/74980090XsSWGh
That was at Magic Mountain by the way, and it was the only trash I saw on the ground the entire day (was there from 11 am-12 pm)!
Sam A. Marks said:
Why is it that people that see "trash everywhere" never are quite able to take a picture of it? and post it.
Does anyone really typically take pictures of trash at parks "just in case" they need to defend their position on a website?
The fact that you admit it's a "constant comment" seems to back up the argument.
-Nate
coasterdude318 said:
Does anyone really typically take pictures of trash at parks "just in case" they need to defend their position on a website?
lol...I am going to have to agree....
Runaway Raptor said:
As far as the dirty aspect I agree with Earnhardt2 and others, though I've never been to SFA.
WTF??????
You agree that SFA is dirty, and you've NEVER BEEN THERE?!?!?!?!
That's a good one LOL!
You actually **TIMED** how long the trash sat there?????
Actually that doesn't surprise me, I've seen reports where people have purposely tipped of trash cans and then sat in the distance timing how long it took for someone to come along and clean it up!
All I'm suggesting is that rather than make general statements like "there was trash all over" you explain what you saw......
I've seen trash BIG TIME under the station for the Mind Eraser. What did I do? I went to Mgt and suggested trash cans on pedestals on the outside of the queue. Voila! no more trash under mind eraser.
The biggest problem with the trash in the queue was solved a couple years ago when operations and the grounds crew finally got together and put trash cans almost everywhere they were needed. Before that no cans were in the queue cause grounds didn't want to go into the queues to empty trash cans.
Suggestions to the parks, rather than moaning and groaning can make a world of difference. Parks dismiss disrespectful comments, however if you givee them respect, they give it back and respond to your suggestions and comments.
SFA (Aug 2001): VERY DIRTY. Trash and litter everywhere. At 11am in line for Face Off (or Two Face or what ever it is they call their Invertigo) the queue line was lined with trash. The cleanest area of the entire park seemed to be INSIDE of the restrooms... no trash over flowing there. My wife and I assumed it was because no one ever took trash in there... they just threw it on the ground out side. It looked like the last time a trash can was emptied was in July. Rides looked like they had not been cleaned in months, paths looked like they had not been swept in months. Did get something to eat, but did not sit down or stay in that area very long because of the filthy condition of it.
SFA (May, 2003): Clean park.
SFDarien Lake (June 2002): Clean park.
Great Escape: (August 2003): No real problems with trash cans... but paths were littered.
SFGreat Adventure (August 2004): Some parts of the park clean, some not. In the "not" parts, litter was on paths. The entire park had a "dirty" look to it like it could use a good scrubbing.
So... going by what others say and by what I have personally observed... the earlier you go to a SF park the better. They seem to do one good cleaning before the season begins and that is it. By the time the season is winding down, the trash pick up and litter sweeping seems to take a back seat.
In reality, it doesn't matter. SFA is responsible for cleaning up their messes, not you.
And by the way, I've been to the park. There were several places that Park Services was lacking. The front of park was beautiful, and I don't doubt that was because I saw two full time managers at the entrance. The rest of the park was not clean whatsoever, and it would have been nice to think that cleanliness extends beyond the Boss's vantage point.
*** Edited 10/14/2004 8:21:03 PM UTC by Zero-G***
Even better Mr. Asst. Rides Supervisor-Geauga Lake, Why should the park have to pick up after someone that can't pick up after themselves in public? I have seen groups of friends and families walk away from a table where they were eating and not deposit the food in a trash can they were sitting next to. Why should the park clean up after them? Even better, in the end, by not cleaning up after ones self, that ultimately cost me money. Why? Because someone like you demands a clean park. So the park tacks on additional money to the cost of a one day admission or a season pass to pay for that extra attendant to stand around and pick up after you.
Sure at times, SFA might need a good spraying down and I can honestly say the times I have noticed it wasn't that way the following week or two when I visited again. At one point I saw a scrub detail scrubing the deck around Pirtaes Flight down and was impressed that not only was it the maintenance crew, but ride supervisors, managers and employees as well. I'm extremely annoyed by all of the gum deposited on the ground. But is that really the parks fault? or is the fault of the General Public that can't take a piece of paper or napkin, spit their gum in it and deposit in a nearby trash can.
when someone spits their breakfast up on a ride, I have seen manager's at SFA running, yes RUNNING, to get a mop, cleaning supplies to clean up as quickly as possible.
The bathrooms at SFA are the cleaniest of any park in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The counters on the food stands are clean and for the most part the rides are clean as well.
So in reality, if EVERYONE would do their part, SFA wouldn't have to worry about being "dirty".
Sam A. Marks said:
You actually **TIMED** how long the trash sat there?????
Uh, no, you completely misunderstood me. I did not see any trash on the ground the whole day I was at the park, until about 11:00 at night in X’s line. The only reason I took that picture was because I was extremely bored in the three hour line.
That's all. You can now go back to defending.
I'm not making an excuse. It's not the parks fault that people are dis-courteous to others and throw the trash on the ground, can't flush a toilet, can't dispose of toilet paper properly, can't take the wrappers from hamburger and throw them in the trash can. Now, if you park has an overflowing trash can and never does anything to empty, that's one thing. If people would just show some courtesy and pick up after themselves, this discussion wouldn't be happening.
No, I don't expect the parks to do that. That's different between myself and you. You expect everything to be spiffy and hunky dory, I'm not. I realize you have a limit of what you can do with the resources you have.
Coasterguts, in an ideal world everyone would clean up after themselves, but they don't. And it's not just in parks. That's why there are janitors in school, people paid to clean up in restaurants and shopping malls, that's why we pay a surcharge on the rent for our office, for cleaning and maintenance.
You ask why the park should be responsible for cleaning up the mess at someone else's table? Well if the park expects people to drop 8-10 bucks a head to eat there, they should at least provide a clean place in return. If not, people will stop spending money there. Then there won't be much need for any employees, it's as simple as that.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get some supplies for my next trip to the park...
___ bucket
___ scrubbing brush
___ lysol toilet bowl cleaner
___ spic and span
___ Granny's lye soap
___ Glade air freshener
___ hefty trash bags
Oh yeah, can't forget the Swiffer...
coasterguts said:
Wow! Zero-G! Do you go to someone elses house, make a mess and expect them to clean it up?
You know as well as I do that that makes absolutely no sense. When I go to someone's house, That is one or 2 person's personal property, and it is their right for me to leave it as I came to it. But Six Flags is a business. Owned by many people. Sure, they may have rules, but they have to deal with the general public. If parks didn't expect to have to clean up after people, they wouldn't hire people who's sole purpose was to empty garbage cans, sweep the sidewalks, and pick up trash. I'm not paying to go and visit a friend.
I pay to go and visit a park, and while I don't just drop my trash on the ground, if a trashcan is full, what can ya do about it falling on the ground? That is what they pay people to do, that is why management get paid more than those people (to make sure they're doing what they're supposed to do), and that is why SFI has problems, because apparently neither the management, nor the staff are doing what they're supposed to.
I will, however, give you the award for stupidest post of the week with that comment.
Even better Mr. Asst. Rides Supervisor-Geauga Lake, Why should the park have to pick up after someone that can't pick up after themselves in public? Bla...Bla...Bla... Why should the park clean up after them? Even better, in the end, by not cleaning up after ones self, that ultimately cost me money. Why? Because someone like you demands a clean park. So the park tacks on additional money to the cost of a one day admission or a season pass to pay for that extra attendant to stand around and pick up after you.
More flawed logic. This is not a perfect world, and people that run parks (who are obviously more informed about these thing than you are) know that to keep people coming back, the place should be clean. SFI apparently forgets this in some parks, hence the underlying problem. You say you have to pay extra,and thats a load of crap. You're paying extra so that a company can provide more rides for you in the future while running a successful business. Oh, and we pay the same amount you do, and I don't know about everyone, but if I'm paying $50 to spend the day somewhere, it better darn well be clean when I get there, as well as when I leave.
Sure at times, SFA might need a good spraying down and I can honestly say the times I have noticed it wasn't that way the following week or two when I visited again. At one point I saw a scrub detail scrubing the deck around Pirtaes Flight down and was impressed that not only was it the maintenance crew, but ride supervisors, managers and employees as well. I'm extremely annoyed by all of the gum deposited on the ground. But is that really the parks fault? or is the fault of the General Public that can't take a piece of paper or napkin, spit their gum in it and deposit in a nearby trash can.
If a company wants to open up such a business, they will no doubt be smart enough to realize that to make money, they have to take the good with the bad. Sure, people are unthoughtful and spit out their gum on the sidewalks. The parks, knowing full well that it is going to happen, are charging these people for the experience, and it is the park's fault if they don't keep things clean, or inforce their own rules on such things.
The bathrooms at SFA are the cleaniest of any park in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The counters on the food stands are clean and for the most part the rides are clean as well.
And I'm sure you've been to every single park there is in the region and can make that claim? I'm talking every single one, and been in every single bathroom.
So in reality, if EVERYONE would do their part, SFA wouldn't have to worry about being "dirty".
Or if Six Flags would do what we're paying them to do and offer us customer service with our over all experience, then more people would patronize their parks, they'd be able to afford adequate staffing to cover these problems, and we'd all be happy.
Until then, wake up for your little dreamworld and try living in a place I like to call reality.
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