Adopt-a-Park
Volunteer Cleanup Changes
Adopt A Park registrations and cleanups are now open and will operate under new COVID-19 health and safety regulations, including gathering restrictions. Under the Stay-at-Home Order, all participants are required to:
- cleanup as an individual or up to groups of 10 people
- wear a mask; and
- follow physical distancing guidelines (keep 2 metres apart)
Adopt A Park in-person training is cancelled due to the Stay-at-Home Order. All groups will receive additional information via email. Participants are encouraged to review all guidelines and precautions related to COVID-19 issued by federal, provincial and municipal public health agencies and take this information into consideration before planning or hosting a cleanup.
Community Clean trailers are not available for booking at this time.
Great parks make great neighbourhoods!
The concept of a group of individuals coming together to become the caretakers of their park is what defines an Adopt-a-Park group. Adopt-a-Park groups consist of volunteers from businesses, service groups, schools and neighbourhood associations. These groups help to maintain their park by undertaking litter clean-ups, planting and weeding gardens, and reporting vandalism and graffiti. Some groups who have their Food Handler Certification will hold community barbecues and events in their parks to encourage community engagement. Working with City staff, these volunteers help to improve park amenities and create clean and safe parks.
For more information call 905-546-2489 or email [email protected]
Adopt-a-Park Training
All Adopt-a-Park groups should receive annual training information. This will include new program information, safety updates and some great resources.
Benefits of Parks and Green Spaces
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
Responsibilities
Adopt-a-Park groups do a lot of things to keep their park looking beautiful such as:
- Pick up litter
- Rake leaves
- Report and/or remove graffiti
- Report hazards
- Sweep walkways and paved areas
- Pull weeds
- Keep shrubs and gardens maintained
- Woodchip trees and shrub beds
Adopt-A-Park groups are provided with annual training information in the Spring and participate in a minimum of four clean-up and beautification activities per year.
The City of Hamilton will provide annual safety training, bags, gloves and access to the Community Clean-Up trailers.
Adopt-a-Park Tool Box
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 (PDF, 641 KB)
- Participant List (PDF, 38 KB)
- Needle pick-up Pamphlet (PDF, 155 KB)
- Food Handler Requirements and Training
Community Clean-Up Trailers
The Community Clean Trailer and the Clean and Green Trailer provide volunteers with the tools they need to beautify our city parks, alleyways, trails and neighbourhoods. Each year, thousands of volunteers collect litter, remove graffiti, and weed flower and shrub beds, plant and mulch trees in an effort to keep our parks and our community clean and green. For more details visit the Community Clean-up Trailer.
Request the Community Clean-up Trailer
Community Improvement Report
Thank you for helping keep Hamilton Clean and Green! We want you to help us gather the details and accomplishments from your efforts. The Community Improvement Report should be completed after every clean-up activity, small or large; we want to share your successes! Information in the Community Improvement Report helps us showcase your efforts and accomplishments to Council and provides us with information regarding supplies and tools needed by volunteers.
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