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The Adopt-a-Park program will allow for maintenance and beautification of city parks through litter and debris removal by various persons and groups. The benefits to both the city and the groups involved are a litter-free, attractive environment and recognition for the adopting groups.
The Adopt-a-Park program allows a group of individuals from the community to adopt a specific park or specified location in a larger park to clean up through debris and litter removal at least 12 times per year. The Parks and Recreation Department will provide latex gloves, trash bags and collection of the litter bags after the clean up. The department will also erect a sign recognizing the adoptive group at the park.
The Parks and Recreation Department has identified specific parks that will be part of the Adopt-a-Park program. Several city parks have been excluded from this list by the Parks and Recreation Department due to safety, economics, logistics, or other issues specific to park properties, including undeveloped parks. Large parks may have specific areas designated for clean-up efforts. A maximum number of groups that can adopt one park may be designated due to size, usage, or other issues specific to a park.
Groups from the community are invited to participate in the program. Groups must have at least six individuals to be qualified for the program, and may include children and adults.
For-profit groups that are accepted into the Adopt-a-Park program will be charged a $100 non-refundable program fee to help defray costs. There is no program fee for groups determined by the department to be non-profit groups, school groups, family groups and the like.
The program will be coordinated under the direction of the Parks and Recreation Department’s operations managers.
Groups that wish to adopt a park or park location for litter and debris removal purposes should contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (772) 878-2277.
An Adopt-a-Park application and agreement will be sent to the group representative. Groups that wish to participate in the Adopt-a-Park program should complete, sign and return the application and agreement.
The agreement stipulates the group agrees to adopt a park, or portion thereof, for performing debris and litter removal a minimum of 12 times per year. Efforts should be made to schedule one of the clean-up days to coincide with a state or national clean-up day. The group understands they are to perform debris and litter removal activities only. Any projects involving anything other than this, such as exotic plant removal, must be pre-approved by the Parks and Recreation Department after written request by the group is made at least one month prior to the date of the proposed project.
The group agrees to only allow such persons to participate as are determined by the group to be sufficiently responsible to safely participate in the clean-up activities. Adequate adult supervision must be provided by the group for participating youth younger than 18 years of age. The group agrees to perform clean-up duties only during daylight hours and under favorable weather conditions, unless otherwise requested and approved for evening hours at a lighted facility.
A sign will be posted at the entrance to the adopted park or at another designated location within the park as determined by the Parks and Recreation Department. The Adopt-a-Park sign may share a sign post with other signs in the park. Signs will state the name of the group and will not be allowed to make political or other statements which may be considered controversial. The Parks and Recreation Department shall be solely responsible for final approval of sign designs.
The Parks and Recreation Department’s division operation managers will coordinate with the group representative the dissemination of supplies and paperwork for the agreement/commitment. Supplies will include latex gloves, trash bags, trash grippers, volunteer rosters, reporting paperwork, and as needed a first-aid kit. Volunteer rosters must be completed with basic information, hours worked and initials of each volunteer or participant, and signed by the assigned supervisor. Completed rosters and clean-up report forms will be submitted to the assigned supervisor, or mailed to the Parks and Recreation Department, within five days of completion of each clean-up date.
The group will schedule clean-ups by calling the operations manager of the Parks and Recreation Department who is coordinating the group at (772) 878-2277 at least three weeks prior to the desired date of the clean-up. Dates may be denied due to special events, other clean-ups already scheduled or other issues related to park usage or safety as determined by the assigned supervisor.
Groups shall agree to have all volunteers sign in on the Volunteer Roster form prior to participation in the clean-up activity date and report to the assigned supervisor prior to starting any work. The group will place filled trash bags in a site dumpster if available, or as directed by the assigned supervisor.
All members of the group must be familiar with and follow the safety precautions of the Adopt-a-Park program. Hazardous situations or conditions shall be immediately reported to Parks and Recreation Department personnel on duty or to the Port St. Lucie Police Department by calling 911.