East Coast Park mess: Netizens decry 'sorry state' after long weekend

A Reddit user has sparked a heated discussion about littering and park maintenance after expressing shock at the amount of rubbish at East Coast Park during a recent visit.

Posting to the r/SingaporeRaw subreddit on Monday, May 12, the user shared that it was their first time back at the park in six years, and they were taken aback by the rubbish scattered throughout the area.

Photos uploaded by the user show rubbish overflowing from bins and strewn across the ground, amidst tents and picnic setups in various parts of the park.

The post set off a flurry of comments from fellow Redditors, many of whom were equally horrified.

"What the hell, it looks like a slum now!" one user said.

Another added: "What a sorry state of Singapore. We have regressed in many areas..."

Some users pointed fingers at government agencies, asking whether the National Parks Board (NParks) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) were doing enough.

"NParks really dropped the ball on cleanliness here. No extra cleaners allocated for long weekends?" one commenter fumed.

"Rules are useless without enforcement," another user lamented.

Others took a more measured view, noting that the photos were likely taken during the Vesak Day public holiday, when the park is usually packed.

"This is the result of a long weekend," said one Redditor. "Rest assured, everything will be cleared by Tuesday."

Amid the discussion, several users proposed constructive ways to manage the situation.

"We need bigger bins and more frequent clearing now," one user said.

Another called on the public to do their part: "If you want to do something constructive, maybe help with cleanup or write to the relevant authorities to ask them to place more trash cans at ECP."

If enough voices speak up, maybe the next long weekend will leave behind memories, not mess.