Adopt-a-Park

The Adopt-a-Park Program is a year-round program for volunteers to help maintain and care for trees, flowers and shrub beds in their local parks and dog parks, green spaces, woodlots and trails. The goal of the Adopt-a-Park program is to engage volunteers and community groups in creating and preserving green spaces and safe parks for everyone. Volunteer cleanup efforts create great parks and great parks make great neighbourhoods!

Adopt-a-Park groups sign up and agree to care for a park or green space for three years. The group must host litter clean ups, add woodchips or mulch for trees, remove or report graffiti and weed shrub beds at least four times each year.

Fill out the application form at www.hamilton.ca/adoptapark. The City will contact you to complete the process of adopting a green space.

Requests are processed on a first come, first served basis. If more than one group requests the same park at the same time, a lottery will be held to choose which group will adopt the park. Sometimes depending on the size of the park, more than one group can adopt the same park. The City of Hamilton makes the final decision to allow a group to adopt a park / green space.

Adopt-a-Park groups do a lot of things to keep their park looking beautiful such as:

The City will:

• Provide regular maintenance in all City parks and green spaces
• Help you choose a park or green space and determine needed improvements
• Provide support to Adopt-a-Park groups when needed, including volunteer support, networking, troubleshooting and safety training
• Refer you to small grants and community partners
• Receive and review inquiries and incident reports
• Provide the tools you’ll need for a successful clean-up (litter & recycling bags, gloves, yard waste bags and safety information)
• Pick up garbage, recycling, and yard waste if needed

Adopt-a-Park Training

Groups are provided with annual training information. This will include new program information, safety updates and some great resources.

Groups should participate in a minimum of four clean-up and beautification activities per year.

The Adopt-a-Park Tool Box is created to offer some of the resources that you require. If you require copies, feel free to print from the pdf in the tool box.

Volunteer Manual 

Learn about volunteer responsibilities, health & safety information, what you need before you being your clean up and important contact information and resources.

• Volunteer Manual(PDF, 424.31 KB)
• Participant List(PDF, 26.28 KB)
• Volunteer Consent Waiver(PDF, 27.44 KB)
• Site Visit Information(PDF, 63.12 KB)

Found a needle, now what?

If you find a needle on Public property including sidewalks, streets, boulevards, parks, trails or facilities, contact the City of Hamilton, Customer Contact Centre, 905-546-2489 and report it.

• Needle Syringe Supplies and Disposal
• Public Health - Be Smart with Sharps poster(PDF, 123.95 KB)
• Public Health - Found a needle, now what? poster(PDF, 134.21 KB)

Planning an Event?

If you’re planning an Event in addition to your clean up, you must register with our Recreation Facilities Division, they will determine availability and whether a Community S.E.A.T. Application is required. Generally, an Event is defined as 15 people or more and anything outside of the scope of an Adopt a Park clean up:

• BBQ
• Fundraiser
• Holiday Celebration
• Park Makeover
• Community Meeting

Register your Event with Recreation Facility Rentals

If serving food, please ensure that you’re following Public Health Guidelines and that one of your representatives has a validated Food Handlers Certificate.

• Food Handler Requirements and Training(PDF, 385.54 KB)

Volunteer commitment to local neighbourhoods is crucial in keeping our green spaces clean, safe and beautiful. A beautiful and vibrant neighbourhood park or green space attracts users and volunteers, increasing pride in the surrounding area.

Participating Adopt-a-Park groups receive an Adopt-a-Park sign with the group’s name or logo; in recognition of the group’s efforts.

Benefits of well-kept parks and public green spaces include:

• Boost to urban economy
• Natural beauty and neighbourhood gathering places
• Provides positive impression; appeals and attracts residents and visitors
• “Green infrastructure” that improves our local environment
• Prevents flooding and improves quality of water
• Cleaner air from trees; releasing oxygen and absorbing pollutants
• Natural habitat for animals and birds
• Play space for children
• Promotes physical activity and better health for all

Being part of an Adopt-a-Park program provides volunteers with an opportunity to:

• Keep your local park clean and green
• Work together with neighbours, community members and colleagues to foster community building
• Meet new people
• Be a good neighbour
• In recognition of your group’s hard work, we will install an Adopt-a-Park sign recognizing your efforts to help keep Hamilton clean and green