NORWAY — Officials say the grills at the popular Lake Pennesseewassee picnic area beside Route 117 may have to be removed if people keep using them for trash cans.

“We need everyone’s help,” Recreation Director Deb Partridge said.

The issue arose recently at a selectmen’s meeting when the board was told that people were concerned about the grills being used as receptacles for garbage. Partridge said the state still owns the land and the amenities on it, such as the picnic tables and grills, and it would have to be the state’s decision to remove the grills — but she would prefer to have people simply clean up after themselves.

“This is a carry-in and carry-out area,” she said.

Nancy Jallade of Bridgton, who frequents the picnic area and one at Twin Bridges beside Route 117 in Otisfield, said she assumes some people simply think it’s better to stuff their trash into the grill then leave it on the ground.

“Some people are just lazy,” she surmised of the problem as she sat at a picnic table eating her lunch next to a grill filled with trash.

The problem is not unique to Norway. The Greenwood rest area also has trash stuffed in the grills many times, as does the Twin Bridges rest area.

The three rest areas were taken over by the towns in the past two years after the state decided to close them for budget reasons.

“We used to have personnel to pick up the trash, but with the budget restraints we can’t send someone up there,” Partridge said. She is urging everyone to take their trash with them so the area will remain open.

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