Unsung Heroes Of Clearwater Beach
Unsung heroes Of Clearwater Beach. Every day, rain or shine, tourist season or not, the dedicated beach team works tirelessly to ensure the shores are pristine for visitors. They gather scattered cones, remove aluminum cans jutting out of the sand, and smooth out the surface with their tractor-like beach rake, reminiscent of the calming rock gardens in Japanese Zen Buddhist tradition.
Yep. We’re talkin about the Sugary White Sand cleaning crew. AKA “The Beach Beautification Team.” As the sun rises, Major Marchman, a worker driving a small dump truck, takes a moment to appreciate the beauty that never gets old. For beach team members like Brodil, there is satisfaction in the endless task of cleaning up, even when areas near Pier 60 are found covered in trash.
Thomas Lanni, the lead worker on the first shift, shares that you never know what you might find on Clearwater Beach. Sometimes, a pile of blankets turns out to be something more, like a moving creature underneath.
Brodil acknowledges that beachgoers generally make the public-facing aspect of the job enjoyable, as everyone seems to be in good spirits when they’re out on the beach. The beautification operations are funded by Clearwater’s paid parking fund, supporting a 20-person team and their machines.
As the day goes on, the beach crew’s work inevitably becomes undone, with people leaving footprints, snapping selfies, and using disposable cups and cans. Despite the impermanence of their efforts, the beach team continues to work diligently, ensuring that the shores remain beautiful for everyone to enjoy. TBT