APPENDIX A

 

ADOPT-A-PARK PROGRAM

Volunteers’ Memorandum of Understanding-Guidelines

 

 

1.0       Introduction

The Town of Markham Environmental Services Department is pleased to work with your group in participating in the Adopt-a-Park Program.

 

The Town of Markham Adopt-a-Park Program has been established as an environmental stewardship and public service program. This is an opportunity for volunteers to enhance their local park system by keeping the areas clean of debris and be our eyes and ears through Park Watch.  It is a way for environmentally minded citizens to make a personal contribution to a more beautiful environment.

 

This agreement sets out your duties and responsibilities and is renewable on an annual basis.

 

 

2.0       General

The Town places a high degree of importance on the maintenance of our park system. In addition to a more beautiful park system, volunteers are recognized by a sign erected by the Town acknowledging their efforts.

 

This is a totally voluntary program. Participants however, should be insured for personal liability and personal injury as the Town does not provide insurance for volunteers.

 

The Town may refuse to grant a request to maintain a site if, in its opinion, granting the request would create a public safety hazard, jeopardise the program, be counter-productive to its purpose, or be in conflict with other Town policies. Participants must abide by any appropriate legislative requirements when engaging in maintenance activities.

 

Participants are required to conduct themselves in a polite manner and to keep children supervised at all times. Parents of children taking part must give approval to your groups’ leaders prior to their children’s participation. The media may attend your event in response to press releases sent out by the Town.

 

We encourage you to submit photos of your efforts, which would be used in further promoting your work and the “Adopt-a-Park Program”. Please fill out and submit the attached release form, to allow for publication of the photos.

 

 

 

 

3.0             Community Group’s Responsibilities

Your groups agrees to:

·                    Note on the attached air photo the area that you are adopting and return one copy with your application.

·                    conduct a minimum of two clean ups a year. Spring and fall are suggested times, or as the need arises.

·                    leave filled bags of garbage in a pre-arranged location and notify parks maintenance staff prior to the clean up.

·                    if possible, recycle materials, and if not too excessive, place with your home recyclables, or clearly mark on the garbage bags left in the park.

·                    to undertake monthly, and if possible, weekly walks through the adopted area is also encouraged.

·                    to report items requiring maintenance to the maintenance request line at (905) 415-7535. Please identify your group’s name, the adoptive area and a contact name and number. This will be recorded so that follow-up action may be taken.

 

The co-ordination of clean-ups that coincide with environmental event weeks may be promoted through press releases sent by the Town. Early notification of your event would be appreciated.

 

In order to help you plan for the dates, the following are environmental celebration event week dates:

 

            National Wildlife Week                                 First full week in April

            Earth Month                                                   April

Earth Day                                                       April 22nd

            Pitch-In Week                                                First full week in May

            Canadian Environment Week                     First full week in June

            Urban Fishing Day                                        First Saturday in July after Canada Day

           

From time to time, volunteers may be requested to hand out information pertaining to your adopted section. No other promotional material shall be distributed by volunteers without written approval by the Town.

 

4.0 Town’s Responsibilities

The Town’s Environmental Services Customer Service Representatives will act as the liaison for your group for the administration of this agreement. They can be reached at (905) 415-7535, fax (905) 479-7766.

 

The Town will:

·                    provide an air photo on which you will indicate your adoptive area and return one copy with your application.

·                    provide garbage bags and gloves.

·                    contact your group on an annual basis to review the program and to renew the agreement.

·                    upon execution of this memorandum of understanding, erect an “Adopt-a-Park” sign in recognition of your group’s commitment.   

 

 

ADOPT-A-PARK PROGRAM

Request Form

 

To notify us of your group’s event, please complete and fax back the form below.

 

Fax to:           Adopt-a-Park Program

                        (905) 479-7766                    

 

The____________________(name of your group) will be conducting a clean up of_______________ Park on_________________(date) from ____to____(time). There will be ____adults and ____children, aged ____ participating.

 

Twelve large garbage bags will be given to your group.  Please note if additional bags are necessary for the weekly/monthly clean ups.  We will provide a maximum of 12 pairs of gloves.

 

Contact Name           _________________________

Phone Number Res  _________________________

                         Bus    _________________________

                            Fax  _________________________

                        E-mail _________________________   

 

 

If you have any special themes for your work, let us know!

 

Theme                        __________________________

 

 

Please place your filled bags at a waste 

At the conclusion of your clean up, please call the Customer Service at (905) 415-7535 with the number of bags collected and the location where the garbage has been left.

 

We thank you for your participation in this program, and we hope you enjoy our beautiful park system.

 

 

ADOPT-A-PARK PROGRAM

Volunteers’ Memorandum of Understanding

 

The Town of Markham recognises the group/individual named below as responsible for the litter clean up at ______________________Park.

 

The adoption of the Park space will begin__________200____and will be offered for renewal by September 31, of each subsequent year.

 

___________________________                  ____________________________

Group Representative (Print)                                 Signature

 

___________________________                  ____________________________

Group Name                                                               Date

 

___________________________                  ____________________________

Street Address                                                            Postal Code

 

(      )_______________________                  (      )________________________

Home Phone Number                                     Business Phone Number

 

(      )_______________________                  ____________________________

Fax Number                                                                Email Address

___________________________                  ____________________________

Group Representative (Print)                                 Signature

 

___________________________                  ____________________________

Street Address                                                            Date

 

___________________________                  ____________________________

Postal Code                                                                Fax Number

 

___________________________                  ____________________________

Home Phone Number                                     Business Phone Number

 

Number of participants in your group______

Is this an Agreement Renewal? (Y/N)______

 

Which of the following best describes your group (please check): ____Business ____School (____grades) ____Youth Group ____ Service Group____ Community Group____ Sports Group ____Individual/Family ____Church Group ____Other (please specify)

 

Please mail or fax this page to:

Town of Markham

Community Services Commission

Adopt-a-Park Program

101 Town Centre Boulevard

Markham, Ontario

L3R 9W3                       Phone Number (905) 415-7535                Fax Number (905) 479-7766

 

Photo Release Form

 

 

To whom it may concern:

 

_____________________ has adopted the path/park in your local area and are taking photographs of individuals taking part in this community event which could potentially be used in a Town of Markham publication.

 

If you agree to have your photo taken, please fill out the attached photo release form. It should be understood that this is strictly on a voluntary basis. We thank you for your participation in this program, and encourage you to enjoy our many beautiful parks and valley systems throughout the year.

 

 

I hereby consent to the use of my photograph in any brochure or publication produced by the Town of Markham. I understand that this is on a voluntary basis.

 

Name________________________________________________

 

Address_______________________________________________

 

Town__________________________ Postal Code_____________

 

Date________________ Signature_________________________

 

Photo location__________________________________________

 

Please clip the associated photo on to this form, with the names of the group, individuals and date on the back of the photo.

 

 

Please send this form to:

 

Town of Markham

Environmental Services and Administration

101 Town Centre Boulevard

Markham, Ontario

L3R 9W3

 

Attention:     Parks Planner

Re:  Adopt-a-Park Program