Adopt-A-Spot Program
Program Intent
The intent of the Adopt-A-Spot program is to encourage citizen participation in beautification and litter clean-ups of designated areas in their community at regular intervals. Individuals, organizations, or businesses may agree to keep a designated area, other than a highway, cleared of litter and/or provide beautification for a contract period of either one or two years.
In return, volunteers will be given materials to help them with the clean-ups, as well as a sign bearing their names posted in their designated area. At the end of their contract, they will receive a special certificate of appreciation and may renew their agreement.
This program is modeled after the Virginia Department of Transportation's Adopt-A-Highway program, and is intended to provide county residents or groups with a means to make James City County a cleaner, more beautiful place for all.
Program Terms:
- Any individual (18 years or older), community group, children's organization (supervised by adults), special interest, business, church, or other group may adopt public areas in JCC.
- Public areas are streets (other than highways or their median strips) parks, schools, vacant lots owned by the county, parking lots, and other publicly held lands.
- The adopting individual(s) or organization(s) commit to cleaning up their adopted areas at least 5 times each year for either one or two years.
- If participants are unable to fulfil their agreement, their signs will be removed.
- Participants are required to track and report on their clean-up activities to the James City Clean County Commission so that information may be used for various reports and analysis.
- Groups with participating members less than 15 years of age must be supervised by an adult of at least 21 years of age.
- Participants must attend an initial safety briefing prior to the first clean-up to review safety and other guidelines. This briefing will be given by the Adopt-A-Spot Coordinator. No participant my be involved in a litter clean-up without having attended at least one safety briefing.
- The Commission will provide participants with plastic trash bags and safety vests (if clean-up involves a street) prior to each clean-up.
- Participants will be advised on how to dispose of filled trash bags. Participants are encouraged to separate recyclable materials.
- A sponsor sign noting the program and participating organization will be erected at the designated Adopt-A-Spot location, and shall be made according to specifications and material supplied by (??).
- After each clean-up, adopting organizations will be asked to provide a simple report. Report forms will be given to each organizations lead representative. If the lead representative is not expected to be at the clean-up site, this report should be give to their designee. This report will include information such as date, hours worked, number or persons involved in clean-up, number of bags collected, etc. This report should be mailed to the Clean County Commission within one week after clean-up.
- The Adopt-A-Spot coordinator, in conjunction with the Clean County Commission, will monitor the designated areas of adoption.
- Adopting groups will be encouraged to schedule two of their five clean-ups to coincide with state and county litter control clean-ups. These dates will be provided.
- James City County reserves the right to make changes to these terms as necessary.
- James City County is not responsible for any accident or injury that occurs to any member of any organization, or their property, that participates in the JCC Adopt-A-Spot Program.
Adopt-A-Spot Safety Rules
DO's:
- Wear an orange safety vest if you are involved in a street or parking lot cleanup so that you can been seen and identified with the cleanup team.
- Wear light of bright colored protective clothing, as well as hard-sole shoes and work gloves. Sandals or open-toe shoes are not allowed.
- Work only during daylight hours and in good weather. Have plenty of water on hand, even in cooler climates.
- Provide adult supervision of group members less than 15 years of age.
DON'Ts:
- Don't horse around or do anything that will distract other volunteers.
- Don't participate in litter cleanups while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Don't pick up litter on or from construction sites.
- Don't pick up materials that are labeled "hazardous" or that are known to be hazardous if unmarked. Contact VPPSA @ 259-9850 to report the material.
- Don't pick up litter in a designated street or parking lot during peak traffic times.
- Don't use power tools such as lawn mowers, tractors, or chainsaws. Weedeaters may be used but the operator must 1) be 18 years of age, 2) wear protective clothing (long sleeves, long pants), and 3) wear eye protection. No other person should be within 50 feet of the operator during use of this tool.
- Don't touch or play with any exposed wires or cables.
Sign Up!
To register for this program, fill out, print, and sign the application and mail the application to the address below. We also ask that participants complete a brief site report after clean-ups.
James City Clean County Commission
Attn: Kathleen Lindsay, Adopt-A-Spot Coordinator
1204 Jolly Pond Road
Williamsburg, VA 23188
Phone: (757) 565-4000
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