Arlington man’s litter crusade in Glencarlyn Park earns national attention
One Arlington man's quiet mission to clean up a local park, first reported by ARLnow, has attracted the attention of media outlets across the nation in recent weeks.
Alan Wile, a retiree who spends his mornings picking up litter in Glencarlyn Park, has become an unlikely local celebrity after his story of daily trash collection was picked up by local CBS affiliate WUSA9 and subsequently shared by news outlets from Evansville, Ind. to Presque Isle, Maine and New Orleans .
What started as a personal mission to improve the park has now turned into a much larger effort, with Wile's dedication capturing the attention of local residents and inspiring others to join in.
"I had one woman that said, 'I've been inspired by what you're doing, and I bought my five-year-old son a [trash] grabber,'" Wile told ARLnow during another morning trash collection outing.
Following WUSA9's broadcast, Wile said CNN approached the station to share the segment with other local media outlets across the country via its Newsource affiliate service.
Initially, Wile was surprised and "a little embarrassed" by the reaction to his efforts and the attention he received. Previously, it was mostly the dogs on the trail who recognized him for the treats he carried in his pockets. Now, most people he encounters on the trail recognize him as well.
"In a way, I think it's sort of silly," he said. "I'm just out here in the park and didn't really think much about it, but a lot of people are saying, 'Thank you for what you're doing.'"
Despite the spotlight on his efforts, Wile notes that the trash problem in Glencarlyn Park persists. Just yesterday (Wednesday), he says, he collected three bags worth of garbage.
"I could barely carry it. It was so heavy, filled with glass beer bottles — the heavy ones — and they fill up the bags very quickly," Wile said.
While the attention and acknowledgments during his walks usually bring a smile to Wile's face, he hopes that those responsible for the litter — who he hopes are watching and reading about his efforts — will think twice before discarding trash carelessly.
"What would be nice is if the people that are tossing the trash could become aware of it and hold onto their bottle or whatever, recognizing that there are trash bins — not many, but there are a few in key places — and do it themselves," he said.
