Volunteers clean up Sunset Beach after 4/20

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – In the aftermath of Vancouver’s 4/20 event, dozens of volunteers spent the day at Sunset Beach trying to clean the site and restore any damage.

There’s no word yet if the park is going to be closed following Saturday’s big pro-pot bash. Footage of the scene shows some damage, mainly from the tens of thousands of people walking around as they took in the event and its many vendors.

Despite laying down a protective covering at the park, not all of the grass was covered, and trails of mud were left behind.

Volunteers with the event came down early Sunday morning, tearing down fencing, lifting the protective covering from the grass, and picked up trash. As crews took up the protective covering, still-green grass was exposed underneath.

“People, we found, were more reliable this year,” said David, a longtime marijuana activist who helped out with clean up efforts. “So we had a bigger team, more reliable team, we put more money into it so there would be less the next day.”

Some beach-goers said they’d seen a number of used joints littering the area, while others said they didn’t see any major damage. Despite most reports suggesting the clean up job done by volunteers was quite effective, some locals have expressed their frustration, adding they felt the need to help out.

“That’s why we’re out here doing it,” Ian said. “We don’t get paid for this stuff, this is stuff that’s in my backyard that I hate to see.”

Tristan, who lives in the West End, said he was still not impressed with some of the debris that was left behind on Sunday.

“This is the place where I get the most pissed off. This isn’t going to slide,” he said.

It’s not clear yet just how much the 4/20 event is going to cost taxpayers.

Meantime, Vancouver Police didn’t respond to any major incidents. About a dozen people were taken to the hospital.