Programs
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Adopt-A-Spot
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Adopt-A-Spot Program volunteers help keep our city clean and beautiful. Volunteers clean an adopted spot five times a year for two years, and in return, receive city-wide recognition for their efforts. In addition, volunteers have access to cleanup equipment and supplies - you can order supplies on-line HERE. Additionally, you can report a cleanup HERE.
The key points of the Adopt-A-Spot program are:
- Any individual (18 years or older), community group, youth organization (supervised by adults), civic organization, business, church, or other group may adopt public areas in Hampton - public areas are streets, parks, vacant lots owned by the City, schools, and other publicly held lands.
- The adopting individuals or organizations commit to cleaning up the adopted site at least five times a year for two years.
- In return a sign that recognizes their contributions is placed at the site.
- The signs are ordered from local sign makers. They are placed and maintained by the Hampton Parks and Recreation Department staff.
- If the participants are unable to honor their agreements, the signs will be removed.
- Participants are required to report the results of their clean up to the Hampton Clean City Commission office so the information can be used in various reports and analyses.
- The results of the cleanups are reported regularly to the Hampton City Council.
Each of us needs to be conscientious about not creating litter. Unfortunately, when some of us are not careful, then we all need to pick up the dropped "ball". That's what the Adopt-A-Spot Program is all about-picking up the litter dropped by other people.
It doesn't sound like fun, but amazingly enough, it is. And keeping your "spot" clean is one of the most rewarding volunteer activities in which you can participate. When you look back over the area you cleaned in the previous hour or two, you will feel a deep sense of satisfaction and pride.
Not only will you feel good, but research by Keep America Beautiful, Inc. shows that regularly cleaning areas helps reduce the amount of litter that is dropped on the site. According to KAB, litter tends to accumulate where people feel no sense of ownership, when they think other people will pick up after them, and when litter has already accumulated.
By adopting your spot:
- You attaching a more personal identity to the site - the name of your organization, family, or your own name.
- You add a sense of ownership to a site people looked at previously as belonging to no one.
- You keep litter from accumulating, which should reduce the amount of litter accumulating.
- You and your group members are not people who are paid to pick up litter-you are "regular people" just like the litterers-and that sense of community will make people think twice about littering.
Feeling good is just part of it, though. You will be making a significant contribution to the City of Hampton. In the past five years, Adopt-A-Spot volunteers contributed more than 20,000 hours of their time in helping to clean up the city. That's 2,500+ days worth of litter cleanup that allowed the Parks & Recreation Department staff to turn their attention to other tasks. By working together, we stretch our resources while showing our pride in our City.
Currently about 100 individuals and organizations participate in the Adopt-A-Spot Program. Available Adopt-A-Spot sites range from the street in front of your house, to the nearest park, to the major thoroughfares of our City. We have posted our list of sites that need adoption, but we couldn't list all the possible sites available. Virtually any public area is open for adoption, with a few exceptions. For your convenience we are providing an Adopt-A-Spot Contract and safety information for your immediate use. Spread the word with this Adopt-A-Spot Brochure!
The basic guidelines of the program are simple, and the rewards are many. Won't you please join us? For more information or an Adopt-A-Spot packet fill out the request form and you will receive information by e-mail or mail.
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