Two clean up tons of garbage along the Parks

WASILLA — Anthony Schmidt and Mac McPherson have cleaned a five-mile stretch of the Parks Highway, from Seward Meridian Road to the junction with the Glenn Highway.

They’ve collected more than 13,000 pounds of garbage. They may as well have adopted it, though they’re not formally affiliated with the popular “Adopt-a-Highway” program.

The two men are a constant sight along the roadside as they fill yellow bags with trash from along the highway, and recently they’ve started working together. McPherson started cleaning by himself a year ago, after previously taking care of the highway in efforts with the Boy Scouts and other organizations. Schmidt has done it for the past two years simply on his own.

McPherson started at exit near Walmart, while Schmidt first focused on the areas around the Hyer Road off-ramp. McPherson spotted Schmidt one day and stopped to talk to him. Monday was the first day the two combined their efforts, patrolling the swatch of grass next to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Although the two started separately, they share the same motivation.

“I got tired of looking at it,” McPherson said.

He drives along the road on a regular basis on the way to and from work. Schmidt agreed. He lives on a road just off the Parks.

“It’s the same reason for me,” he said.

The duo is not only dedicated, but also particularly meticulous.

“We don’t just pick up the stuff that you can see (from the road),” Schmidt said.

“We get it all,” McPherson said.

With Monday’s efforts, the two men will have combed every median and shoulder of the road, and in the next couple of weeks they intend to revisit whatever they’ve already cleaned, picking up anything new.

The two have also kept personal record of the different items they’ve found. The largest source of fast food garbage? Not McDonald’s, as one might expect, but rather Taco Bell, according to Schmidt. In addition to the regular trash, the pair have discovered some odd items.

McPherson found money for the first time this past week, and Schmidt claims to have collected someone’s dental records along a certain stretch, X-rays and all.

Although McPherson and Schmidt volunteer the time they work on the highway, it does not go completely unrewarded. Occasionally people stop and offer them money and gift cards, and some have even provided the cleaners with meals and bottles of water.

“One time I came back to the van and found a $20 Subway gift card and two tens,” Schmidt said.

“It’s all fantastic…especially those that have stopped by and given (Schmidt) or myself gift cards or brought us meals,” McPherson said.

He reiterated how much they appreciate the support from the community.

The two will continue to work together from now on, but after working on the highway since April “we’re kind of burnt out,” Schmidt said. After going over every area once more, the pair intends to take a break from cleaning for a week or two. They will then discuss their next plan of attack. They’re eyeing the Palmer Hay Flats as an area in need of work.

However, McPherson and Schmidt can be unreservedly proud of their accomplishment, for now. Schmidt likes to set aside the cleaning every once in a while, taking in the view of Pioneer Peak and the beaming sun.

“We’ve kind of adopted our own part of the highway,” he said.

Contact Kaden Weaver at 352-2270 or kaden.weaver@frontiersman.com.