Community Space? Sure... with responsibiity

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My school’s playground and yard areas are considered community space. We used them for our students at recess and lunch times, as well as when we’re doing activities outside. But area residents are also allowed to use them. It’s a big yard. With the playground area in the south side, a small hill with trees, a tennis court in the north side, the big football field, and another huge grass area to the west. It’s a nice place and I understand why people in the neighbourhood like to use it. But often I wonder if it should be shared. It’s bad enough that kids will litter, even though they’re slowly learning not to. But when the “guests” do the same, a few times more even, it starts to bother me. In the 18 years I have been in this school, I have seen dog poop galore, zillions of beer and other alcoholic beverage bottles, pop cans, juice containers, gum wrappers, plastic bags, papers, newspapers, magazines…… you get the idea. Worse I have found a few needles here and there as well. This is a space for the school children to use. It shouldn’t be “garbage Town”. The caretakers have enough work just trying to keep up with all the garbage. In school we have a community helpers group that also helps pick up the garbage outside. We are having some success with the “don’t litter campaign” within the kids in school, but it is not working with the people coming from outside and using the yard. Yep…sometimes… more often than never now, I really wonder if the area should really be shared with the community when the community is not responsible enough to keep it clean and safe for the kids. Have you noticed this is other community areas where you live? Do you think restricting access would be fair?