420 Revelers Leave Hippie Hill a Mess

It’s an annual “unofficial” celebration for pot enthusiasts – April 20 or 420, when people in San Francisco gather in Golden Gate Park at Hippie Hill, lighting up and chilling.

The problem this year – the group of almost 15,000 people left a pile of garbage that is still being cleaned up – two days after the festivities.

Officials with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department estimate the larger than normal crowds left behind 10,000 pounds of trash, meaning it will cost taxpayers more than $10,000 in clean up costs.

The event is an informal gathering with no official organization taking the lead, meaning the city does not provide extra trash cans or portable toilets. But because 420 fell on a Saturday with beautiful weather, more people packed Hippie Hill than is normally the case, leading to more trash being strewn all over the park.

There were extra police in the area, but authorities said there were no reports of any serious crimes at the celebration.

The effects of the celebration have led many to wonder if an organization needs to step up to set up cleaning fees and turn the event from unofficial to official in the future.

 

 

Photo Credit: San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department

Comments

  1. Most of the mess was left by out-of-town thugs illegally vending who were only there to make a buck & could care less about our city. Crack down on the illegal vending & there will be a lot less trash since it was all the remnants of what had been sold throughout the day.

  2. Moop makes me so sad. It’s true people ought to feel more responsibility for their “matter out of place” especially in San Francisco’s (or at least my) backyard. Having said that, I will say this… there used to be 15-20 people working hard for every one of the current Parks dept. employees. My dad was one of them as they were dwindling and my uncle is one of the few still employed, though, miserably over worked, under appreciated and wont be replaced if he makes it to retirement. There are precious few garbage bins in the vast park and MUCH more important upkeep to maintain. WE NEED more bins, city employees, and appreciation for our lovely parks! We are simple steps away from privatizing Golden Gate Park, Where it will no longer be our park, the city’s park or even a State Park… it will be something like- McDonald’s Park, beautifully run, and manicured, but not free, and not ours.

  3. They should hire Waste Busters!

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