Town invites local clubs, groups to adopt a park

As Sahuarita grows, so does use of its public parks and the efforts needed to keep them clean.

During the summer, monsoon winds and rain make it even more of a challenge to keep local parks free of litter and blowing trash, according to Debbie Summers, director of Sahuarita’s Parks & Recreation Department.

One way community groups and businesses can help is by committing to a park or public area through the town’s Adopt-a-Park program.

Civic clubs, schools, neighborhood associations, religious groups, military organizations, Scout and others, including businesses, are welcome to make an ongoing commitment to clean up and control litter in their adopted areas.

These groups also report any needed repairs at their sites as well as dangerous or unsafe conditions, vandalism and graffiti.

The Adopt-a-Park program includes Anamax Park, Sahuarita Lake Park and Parque los Arroyos or a special facility in a park, such as the Anamax Bark Park, baseball fields or playgrounds.

Interested groups are asked to conduct a cleanup of their adopted area at least once a month. After each cleanup, the group is asked to submit a work report to the town that records the group’s volunteer hours and any maintenance issues observed.

The group and the Sahuarita Adopt-a-Park coordinator, Brian DeBreceny, together set up dates and times for the cleanups. Groups must sign a waiver before each cleanup and can get trash bags and orange safety vests from the town Parks and Recreation office at Anamax Park.

After a trial period, the program coordinator will make arrangements to place a sign at the adopted site acknowledging the group’s ongoing commitment to maintain the area as a litter-free resource for the community. Groups also will be recognized through the town newsletter and a press release.

Interested groups can contact the Adopt-a-Park coordinator at 625-2731 ext. 110 for assistance in selecting a site.

In response to a recent complaint about Anamax Park trash blowing onto a neighboring property, Summers points out that park employees go along the entire property line daily to remove trash in this heavily used park.

“We have communicated to all our sports leagues the necessity of keeping the park free of trash,” she notes. “We speak to the general public when we come across them in the park, asking (them) not to throw trash on the ground.”

In addition, the department added 30 trash containers to Anamax in 2006, doubling the number from 2005.

Also, signs are posted inside the park and on ramada rental forms that state properly disposing of trash is the individual’s responsibility.

“The police will and have cited people if caught throwing trash on the ground and have increased patrols at the park,” Summers adds.

“The only thing we cannot control is what people do when we are not looking, the weather and wind,” Summers says. “We also cannot control litter from people driving on the freeway.”

She does note that private property owners are responsible for trash on their properties.

“Anamax is a very popular park and with more people moving to town, we find more people are using the park. We are doing our best to keep the park as clean as possible and appreciate any support from our members of the community,” Summers says.

kwalenga@sahuaritasun.com | 547-9739