Parks & Recreation CEIC &
Public Works Department

Volunteer Programs

Chesapeake: The City that Cares. The Adopt a Highway and Adopt a Garden programs are designed to make it clear to visitors and residents alike that we care about our City and the way it looks. For years, these two programs have helped the City and volunteers like you improve the appearance of our roadways and roadside gardens while reducing the cost of litter removal. Without you this would not possible!

Anyone! Local community organizations and clubs, churches, synagogues, businesses, families, even individuals aged 18 years or older. Groups with members younger than 15 must have adult supervision when working their adopted location.

The program gives you a way to show pride in your community. You also get recognition for your efforts on the Adopt a Highway/Adopt a Garden signs along your adopted route or near your adopted garden. Picking up trash along a roadway and/or maintaining a garden is an easy, team-building project that takes no finanical committment and only a few hours each quarter.

Adopt-a-Highway:

Volunteers in this program adopt a roadway for a distance of approximately two miles. Depending on whether the road they adopt is a multi-lane road like Battlefield Blvd. or a residential street, the volunteers can elect to take one side of the roadway or both. The group picks up litter and illegal signs within the City’s Right-of-Way (which will be identified for them on a map provided at the time of final adoption). We ask that each organization make a two-year commitment to collect litter along your selected stretch of roadway. Each quarter your volunteers go out in the bright orange vests provided by the City and pick up the litter, bagging it in the bags provided and leaving them for pick-up by Public Works. Illegal signs can be stacked beside the bags.

Adopt-a-Garden:

In this program volunteers select a roadside or intersection garden to plant and maintain. Again, we ask that each organization make a two-year commitment to their garden. The group itself, together with Public Works, selects and provides suitable planting materials. The City will provide orange safety vests.

Return the interest form or call (757) 382-CITY (2489).

Adopt a Highway/ Adopt a Garden application

Adopt a Highway/ Adopt a Garden brochure

Thanks to the following groups that have joined the program!

Our participants in Action

(June, 2008) The Southside Lions Club cares for a two mile segment of Providence Road.  Participating in this quarterly event were:  The Lion King, Dennis Ackerman, First Vice President, Lion Frank Brothers, Third Vice President, Lion Mary Davis, Lion Jimmy Hofer, Lion Bruce Horner, Second Vice President, Lion Ben Hurr, Past District Governor, Lion Dick Knox, Lion Connie Perkins, Lion WT Perkins, Lion Ron Schneider, Lion Tom Shenk and Lion Joe Schaedel.  (Photo courtesy of Frank Brothers.)

The results of the team effort were 15 trash bags of trash, one huge cardboard box filled with cardboard and paper and about 8 or 10 election signs.  Great job!

(March, 2009) The Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council gathered in March 2009 for their first quarterly clean-up of the year on Greenbrier Parkway.  The group collected 23 bags of trash and five business signs were picked up that were abandoned by a business.  Most interesting item collected?  A sizeable check made out to a local builder!

(May, 2009) Chesapeake Service Systems gathers after a clean up in May.

Parrot Head Club showcasing proper safety attire on their clean up day.

 

• Wear brightly colored clothing, the orange safety vest provided by the City, gloves and hard-soled shoes.

• Bring drinking water to the site in hot weather and take breaks as necessary.

• Car pool to the work location.

• Do not bring children younger than 15 years old or pets to the site.

• Work in groups facing oncoming traffic.

• Work only on clear days and only during daylight hours. Avoid working during peak traffic hours.

• Avoid working on bridges or overpasses.

• Watch out for bees, snakes and poisonous plants.

• Do not pick up any hazardous material or material of which you are unsure. In these situations call Public Works Department at (757) 382-6882 or the Chesapeake Fire Department at (757) 382-6297.

• If anyone approaches you concerned about your removing signs along your stretch of road, discontinue removal and report back to Public Works that the signs remain in place.

• Please do not overfill trash bags since injuries are more common when bags are overfilled.

• Leave the filled bags beside the roadway, but away from the edge of pavement, and call Public Works at (757) 382-6882 to arrange for collection.