Why not Adopt-a-Park with the Saco Parks & Recreation Department?
Adopt-a-Park is a volunteer program whereby the Saco Parks and Recreation Department partners with individuals and local organizations to help keep our city safe, clean and beautiful.
Community parks and green spaces require a tremendous amount of resources to maintain and consistently improve. To assist in helping to maintain the high level of standards our residents and visitors expect, we are inviting the community’s participation. Your assistance will help our environment, our community and your quality of life.
It is a great way to give back to the community and to have a sense of accomplishment. Adopting groups develop teamwork, camaraderie and pride. It also gives adopters a chance to have a hands-on role in keeping their park clean and beautiful.
WHO CAN VOLUNTEER?
The Saco Parks and Recreation Department unites and supports all people interested in improving Saco’s parks, trails, community gardens and green spaces. Our volunteers include:
Individuals
Civic organizations and service clubs
Neighborhood associations
Schools
Businesses
Faith-based organizations
Scouts
Youth groups
AREAS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
You can adopt an entire park, trail, or a particular area in a park, including:
Playgrounds
Courts
Flower beds
Trees and shrubs
Trails
Open green spaces
PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTING A PARK
A representative of an interested group or any individual interested in becoming involved with the City of Saco’s Adopt-a-Park Program should contact Saco Parks & Recreation. The City maintains a list of facilities currently available for adoption and a staff representative would be happy to meet with you or your group to discuss the program in further detail and possible sites.
Once a park or green space has been selected for adoption, a formal Adopt-a-Park Agreement will need to be filled out and returned.
WHAT YOUR ADOPTION WILL INVOLVE AND WHAT YOU WILL BE ASKED TO DO
Once your adoption is approved, a park maintenance contact person will be assigned and an appointment will be set up at the adopted site to train the group leaders and individuals to do the tasks for which they have volunteered. The following are just a few of the routine activities that volunteers can perform:
Litter pickup
Plant flowers
Level and/or reset wood chips in shrub beds and tree rings as necessary
Landscaping and landscape maintenance (including weeding and watering)
Clean/sweep debris from sidewalks and play court surfaces
Remove graffiti
Minor painting
Facility and equipment upkeep and maintenance
Identification and reporting of unsafe conditions
MINIMUM COMMITMENT
We ask for a minimum commitment of one year of service to your adopted park or green space. As part of the Adopt-a-Park Agreement, a number of routine maintenance tasks will be identified specific to the adopted facility. We would ask that volunteers perform these routine tasks a minimum of once a month. Special maintenance projects can be arranged a few times throughout the year by working with the Parks & Recreation Staff.
RECOGNITION
An official Certificate of Adoption
An adoption sign with the adopter's name on it will be posted at the adopter's site after 20 reported volunteer hours and will remain posted as long as the group/individual is an active volunteer.
ADOPT-A-PARK QUICKLINKS
Program Guide: our Adopt-a-Park program guide gives a great introductory overview as to what this program is, the many ways volunteers can become involved, and helps to define volunteer expectations as to time commitments, policies, and safety guidelines. Click here to download the Adopt-a-Park Program Guide.
Volunteer Hours Report Form: volunteers must keep track of hours spent volunteering on a quarterly basis and report total hours to the Saco Parks and Recreation Department on the Volunteer Hours Report Form. Hours are due by the 15th of January, April, July and October. See additional info in the Program Guide.
For more information about the Adopt-a-Park program:
John Sherman, CPRP, Deputy Director: jsherman@sacomaine.org