Hurricane cleanup is still underway, but what about just keeping our sidewalks and parks sparkly clean on the regular? How do we help with that?
Enter Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Street programs, in which residents help pick up littered fast food bags and water bottles, rake up leaves and other debris, and generally make our public spaces a little more pretty. We’re digging into some local programs:
Local Adopt-A-Road programs
Tampa and Hillsborough County residents can head to Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful’s page for Adopt-A-Road Program opportunities— and it’s more than just roads. Groups can sign up to adopt a road, park, shoreline, HART shelter, WATERGOAT, or monofilament tube (which live at boat ramps and fishing piers).
All you have to do is fill out an online form at least two weeks in advance with your preferred site, group size, and date and time. KTBB will give you waivers to sign and provide all the supplies you’ll need to finish the job.
Over in the Burg, you can help keep your favorite biking and power walking hotspot clear (and free from hazards) with the Pinellas Trail Adopt-A-Mile Program. Keep Pinellas Beautiful maintains the program, and also offers alley, shoreline, mile, and community options.
Adopt-A-Highway
You might have spotted one of the Adopt-A-Highway dedication signs along while trapped in traffic on I-275. And that could very easily be your name on the sign. Sign up with the Florida Department of Transportation to keep a two-mile stretch of highway clean, the only requirements are that you clear litter four times per year, stay in the program for two years, and follow safety regulations.
To sign up, call your local office at (813) 975-6060.
