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What is the Adopt-A-Park/Trail Program?

Durham Parks and Recreation’s Adopt-A-Park/Trail Program (APAT) is designed to encourage the community to work with Durham Parks and Recreation to keep its parks and trails clean and attractive. This program creates a framework under which residents and resident groups/agencies or organizations can contribute to the City by "adopting" a section of a City trail or park, and agreeing to improve it through litter pick-up, maintaining flower beds, painting, spreading playground mulch and other safety surfacing and other manual labor. The program also offers the opportunity for people to get more involved in their community in a way that promotes civic pride, appreciation and awareness.

Currently Durham Parks and Recreation manages approximately 1,800 acres of parkland, nearly 70 parks and over 15 miles of trails. Since 2003 community groups have adopted parks and trail segments in Durham through the Adopt-A-Park/Trail Program. The assistance we receive from adopters’ is invaluable as we make every effort to care for our natural resources.

Who can participate?

The APAT program is open to any individuals, youth groups, neighborhood associations, civic groups, faith-based organizations, athletics organizations, service organizations, schools (groups and teams) business and other community organizations throughout the City of Durham that are interested in bettering our parks and trails.

Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the City’s General Services Department provide routine park maintenance and repairs. The adopting individuals and organizations give the park or trail the extra care and attention it needs. Adopters share in improving and enhancing the City’s parks and trail system by working on a variety of approved projects. Adopters have assisted with numerous cleanup, landscaping and facility improvement projects.

What is the Adopt-A-Park time commitment?

The adoption commitment begins in January and concludes December 31 of that year. Adopting individual/organizations are asked to make a one-year commitment to their park or trail completing a minimum of six projects per year. However, applications may be taken during the year and the number of expected cleanup projects may be prorated according to the adoption approval date. The contact person for each adopted park is responsible for organizing six yearly clean-ups and keeping track of the group’s total volunteer hours and clean-up supplies, which are provided by DPR. In addition, it is their responsibility to:

1. Inform the APAT coordinator of your scheduled cleanup date no less than two weeks in advance so that arrangements can be made for trash removal, and we can let you know of any potential conflicts;
2. Pick up litter/debris and place the filled trash bags in the designated areas;
3. Adhere to the safety guidelines as provided to you by the APAT coordinator;
4. Report any vandalism or potential safety hazards found in your adopted space;
5. Complete and return APAT Progress Report, volunteer applications, and volunteer service record within 14 days of project completion. These can be returned in person, by mail or electronically.

What about Special Projects?

In addition, any requests to perform special projects that will materially change adopted space, such as landscaping or facility improvements, should be submitted to the APAT coordinator in writing at least one month in advance of the desired project date. DPR is excited that you wish to improve the park, and want to work with you to ensure that your efforts leave a lasting positive effect. The appropriate City departments will review your request to ensure that the project complies with applicable safety, environmental, and legal restrictions, that it is consistent with the overall design, use and maintenance of the park or trail, and that the date does not conflict with activities scheduled for the facility. The APAT coordinator will respond to your organization with required guidelines for that special project.

What about equipment?

DPR provides trash and recycling bags, recycling information, safety guidelines, and trash removal. We also have "grabbers," safety vests and work gloves available for checkout with a $50 refundable deposit. This deposit may be waived if a written request is received 14 days prior to the scheduled project date and approved by the director of DPR or her designee.

How will my adoption be recognized?

After a successfully completed 12 months of service a sign will be displayed in a prominent part of the adopted park or trail acknowledging your organizations/individual service to the parks/trails system. Adopters can also be issued certificates of appreciation, have their agency/organization or individual name highlighted on DPR’s website and letters of recognition written on behalf of the adopter by the department’s director.

How do I get started?

If you are a group, appoint a contact person to ensure clear communication. Contact the Adopt-A-Park and Adopt-A-Trail program coordinator to discuss the parks and trails currently available for adoption and any questions you may have about the program. Complete the Adopt-A-Park/Adopt-A-Trail adopting application with the APAT coordinator for the specific park or trail you wish to adopt. Register your volunteers, contact the coordinator to schedule your first event and reserve any equipment or supplies you may need. At the event, review the safety guidelines and instructions for where to leave trash and recycling with your volunteers.

Complete your project and submit progress report. You’re on your way!

Adopt-A-Park and Adopt-A-Trail Success Stories

Derek Rhodes: Durham's First Park Adoptee

In 1999 Derek Rhodes, then six years old, began what has become a wonderful program for Durham Parks and Recreation. Derek adopted Wrightwood Park. His bold steps have benefited Wrightwood Park and created a model for DPR's Adopt-a-Park Adopt-a-Trail program.

Derek and his mother Carolyn sat down with the then Adopt-a-Park Adopt-a-Trail Program Coordinator Annette Smith to talk about the program he started in Durham and what he plans for the future.

"I was in Florida and I saw an infomercial on a program called "The Big Help." This program encourages people to clean up neighborhoods and roads. I wanted to do something in Durham. I have always enjoyed helping people and helping the community, I thought that one of these ways would be to adopt a park. I am involved in lots of community events and programs. In the past school year, I started a group called Socks for the Sick which consisted of a group of about six sixth graders (including myself) that discussed ways to raise socks for sick children. In the upcoming year, I plan to continue that group, but will change it to Clothes for Comfort, in which the group will raise clothes for homeless families. The group is at my school. I am also active at my church, Monument of Faith, where I direct our youth choir.

At the time it was the park closest to my home. I used to come to Wrightwood to play.

I check on the park and make sure everything is ok. I pick up trash and report items need to be fixed and help make it a better park.

I want to get more teen involvement to better Durham and the community. I want to be a strong leader in the community and to be considered as a role model to others and build better parks.

If you feel that you can make it better then go for it! Take a shot! Take time out to help the city be a better place and have fun doing it! People are going to laugh at you and question your motive behind it, but don't let that discourage you. If it makes you happy and if it makes you feel like you're doing something great, go for it!

Forms

In an effort to be green and cost-effective as well as to simplify reporting, we are developing electronic versions of all our APAT forms. As new forms become available, we will add them here. Please let us know if you have comments or concerns with the forms. Scanned forms may be e-mailed to malgosia.atkinson@durhamnc.gov. Completed forms may also be faxed to (919) 560-1244 or mailed to Elizabeth Gessner, Durham Parks and Recreation, 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701.

Forms to Print, Write, and Mail/Scan to E-mail/Fax (Fastest Downloads)

Progress Report Form

Forms to Complete Electronically and E-mail

Coming Soon!