Wrapping Up Debris Disposal

The mountains of mulch at Johnson Park are just about gone.  The City of Tulsa says they have stopped bringing in any new debris.  And, the rest should be gone next week.  The News On 6's Steve Berg reports that can't happen soon enough for the people who live next to the park.

You could easily argue that the neighborhoods around Johnson Park have carried the burden for the whole city.

The residents at Johnson Park say they've dealt with much too much mulch.

"The noise is 24-hours a day," said Rex Traw.

Rex Traw is the president of the Riverside South Neighborhood Association and his house backs up right next to the park.

"I know that there's been some nights that I've only had probably two hours of sleep because of the equipment right in my, nearly, in my backyard," said Rex Traw.

"There's been times I've been up at like midnight and stuff, and they don't stop," said Andrew Traw.

In spite of the noise, and the lights, and the dust, Traw says the situation was tolerable until about a week ago, when they started stirring up the dust.

"The dust has just been horrific," said Rex Traw.  "In fact, I've been working in my backyard, and it ran me out of the backyard."

Traw's son Andrew has had asthma problems before, but never this time of year.

"I've been having a lot more problems when I'm breathing and stuff.  If I exercise any or go outside, I have to be really careful," said Andrew Traw.

With all the family has been through, though, they've keep a remarkably good attitude.

"It's gotta be done somewhere, and sometimes you have to bite the bullet," said Rex Traw.

The city says the amount of mulch in Johnson Park would have covered 380 football fields at a depth of 3 feet.

Soon, they'll begin the process of restoring the park.

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