ADOPT-A-PARK / ADOPT-A-ROADWAY

Playground

 

Kinsmen Community Dog Park | Splash Pads |
Community Greenhouse

 

The City of Quinte West has developed an Adopt-A-Park/Adopt-A-Roadway Program to help beautify our roadsides and parkland.

Concept:
City parks, roadways, and greenbelt areas can be ‘adopted’ by youth clubs, neighbourhood groups, schools, or other organizations.  These groups plan and carry out environmental activities within their adopted parks, in co-operation with City staff.

Their volunteer work can be augmented by funds from local sponsors to pay for materials and equipment.  Plaques will be mounted at the entrance of each park or along the roadway identifying the adoptee group.

Objectives:
The objectives of the project are to:

  • create the opportunity for citizens to help the environment;
  • build  community pride and a sense of ownership in our parkland and roadways;
  • develop opportunities for youth to learn about the environment;
  • share the responsibility for a clean community with residents;
  • reduce litter  and associated costs of cleanup; and
  • provide a means for service clubs and corporate sponsors to contribute towards local environmental projects.

Types of Activities:
Activities may include doing periodic safety checks and reporting any damage and cleaning up litter and garbage.  Other activities could include planting trees, flowers or shrubs as approved by City staff.

Financial Sponsors:
Adoptee could approach local business firms, service clubs, community groups, and residents to sponsor the work being done.  These funds could be used to purchase garbage bags, trees, shrubs, flowers, bottled water, signage, and equipment such as gloves, safety “tearaway” vests, shovels and rakes.  

City Support:
City Staff will assist with selection of an appropriate site, provide a “Clean Up Kit” of equipment and supplies, and arranging garbage pickup.

How to Register:
If you are interested in the Adopt-A-Park Project or Adopt-A-Roadway Project, please either print a registration form from the link below or complete the following online form and submit it to the Community & Leisure Services Department or the Public Works Department. For further information call 613-392-2841.

 

Printable Registration Form

 

Online Registration Form

This is to acknowledge that

ADOPTED PARK AREA:
                                                                       or
ADOPTED ROADWAY:  
from   Road/Street to Road/Street

has been adopted by:

Name of Adoptive Group:

Contact Name:    

Phone Number:     Email:  

for the years to .

Purpose:

To allow residents the opportunity to enhance the environment and beautify the City by assisting in the maintenance and development of parkland/roadways in Quinte West.

Goals:

  • Create the opportunity for citizens to help the environment;
  • Build  community pride and a sense of ownership in our parkland/roadways;
  • Share the responsibility for a clean community with residents;
  • Develop opportunities for youth to learn about the environment;
  • Reduce litter and associated costs to cleanup; and
  • Provide a means for service clubs, corporate sponsors to contribute towards local environmental projects.

    •  

         

Workplan

Park / Roadway:         

Adopted by:                

Date of Cleanup:        

Alternate Date:           

Contact Person #1:  
Phone #:     Email:  

Contact Person #2:  
Phone #:     Email:  

Alternate:   
Phone #:     Email:  

City Contact Person:  

Tasks

Anticipated Dates

Expected # Participants

Material and Equipment

 

          

 

Activities You Can Do in Your Adopted Park / Roadway

Sanitation

Removal of debris, garbage and broken glass from ditches, hard surfaces, including walkways, parking lots, sports fields, courtyards, playgrounds, ball diamond infields, flower beds, fence lines, and parks furniture (benches).

Inspect and Report

Check for worn or damaged parks furniture, signs, playgrounds, courtyards, sports fields, walkways surfaces, lights or fences, damaged or dangerous trees and shrubs, or erosion.

Plant Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers

Planting of approved trees, shrubs or flowers in designated areas conforming to park site plans, as well as regular weeding and watering to City specifications.

 

How To Organize Your Community Cleanup

At Least One Month Ahead:

  • Select the area you wish to clean.   Ideally it should be an area that can be cleaned by your group in three hours or less.  
  • Chose a date for your cleanup, with an alternate date in case of poor weather conditions or park booking conflicts.
  • Recruit key volunteers to help you organize the event.
  • If permission slips are required from parents for youth volunteers, send slips home along with a description of your planned event and an invitation for parents to participate with their children.
  • Discuss the cleanup event with your group and encourage their participation.

    •  

At Least One Week Ahead:

  • Arrange for necessary materials – cleanup “kit”, garbage bags, gloves, first aid kit(s), maps of the site, drinks, and litter sticks (if available).
  • Contact the Parks Department to arrange for assistance to pick up garbage, and to establish pick-up area(s).
  • Select the group leaders for the cleanup (suggested ratio: 1 leader for 10 volunteers). Assign specific responsibilities and give each a copy of “Guidelines To Group Leaders” and a map of their assigned area.
  • Remind all volunteers of the date, location, time and anticipated duration of the cleanup.  Make suggestions as to the type of protective clothing they should wear (i.e. closed toed shoes, gloves, hats, sunscreen).

    •  

Guidelines to Group Leaders for Cleanup Events

Helpful Hints:

  • Advise all  volunteers to wear Closed Toed Shoes (i.e running shoes, hiking boots)
  • Ask volunteers to wear bright colours to increase visibility.
  • Your volunteers should work in small groups.  The ideal size is two to three (never work alone).
  • When garbage bags are getting full or heavy, (maximum 40 pounds) volunteers should take them to the areas designated for pickup by the Parks Department.
  • Only work in daylight and fair weather, and avoid rush hours or high usage/traffic times.
  • If volunteers become overly tired or the weather conditions turn inclement, use your own judgement to terminate cleanup activities early.
  • As an option, you may wish to keep recyclable items (eg. cans and bottles) separate for pickup and recycling.
  • Never bring infants or pets.

    •  

Safety Precautions:

  • Ensure all volunteers are equipped with appropriate clothing, sun protection, water,  and safety equipment.
  • Children younger than 10 years old should not participate without parental supervision (and never on roadway cleanup).  All children should be well supervised at all times.
  • Establish a buddy system where two or three volunteers keep track of each other and to watch out for one another’s safety.  NEVER work alone!
  • Avoid creeks, riverbanks, or ponds with high water or fast moving currents.
  • Cross the road only at pedestrian crosswalks or flat visible locations.
  • Instruct volunteers to pick up only non-hazardous materials.  They should report any broken glass, or metal/plastic with sharp edges to their Group Leader.  Use your own judgement whether to pick these up with gloves or to report them to the City Department for removal by trained staff.  Needles should not be handled, advise city staff if these are located.
  • Have a stocked first aid kit available, sun safe concerns should be followed.
  • Roadside cleanups must follow the Manual Uniform Traffic Devices guidelines.
  • If working roadside always face traffic and don’t make sudden movements or distract drivers.

 

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