Resident Spontaneously Cleans Up East Boston Camps

Hunter S. Thompson once said "You can only push a man so far before he starts pushing back."

It just happens that sometimes that push comes in the form of garbage and the push back comes in the form of a really big truck.

Local resident and Westford Patch Local Voices blogger Mike Reid saw discarded playground equipment strewn at near the entrance of the East Boston Camps during his , and again in our

Friends of the East Boston Camp representatives told Patch on Tuesday that this was the third time dumping had occurred in the area, with earlier dumpings including old trees and other biodegradeable debris, but by Wednesday, Reid had stated his frustration on Westford Patch's Facebook page that no one seemed responsible for the cleanup, and a day later he finally took matters into his own hands.

Thursday afternoon he rented a truck from 1-800-GOT-JUNK and paid to remove all the trash from his own pocket.

"I don't know if I will ever be paid back, but I feel good getting this done," he said.

Reid told Patch he is happy to accept donations for reimbursement for the cleanup, which came out to $168, and can accept payments through paypal at his e-mail address, mreid1166@gmail.com, or by check through mail to his home at 36 Depot St., Westford, MA 01886.

"I would love to get paid back, but if I don't, that's OK too," said Reid. "I know I did a good thing for the community (and that was enough.)"

Since Westford Patch asked readers on Wednesday to keep alert for those who originally dumped the playground equipment, no further information regarding the identities of those allegedly behind the act have been brought forward.