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Adopt-a-Park and Public Areas
Land Stewardship Program
 Arizona Clean & Beautiful Litter Hotline
Report litter thrown from vehicles, online or toll-free, 1-877-354-8837 (1-877-3-LITTER) or (602) 712-4683. Information to record:
- Arizona vehicle license plate number
- Vehicle make & model
- Item littered
- Date, time, street location and city
What is the Adopt-a-Park & Public Areas Program?
Adopt-a-Park & Public Areas is a model litter cleanup program, implemented as a partnership between public and private sectors to address the problem of litter in our community. Tucson Clean & Beautiful (TCB) began to address this growing problem with the first Adopt-a-Park project at "A" Mountain (Sentinel Peak) on July 26, 1984. A coalition of city and county government leaders, the business community, and volunteers from community organizations joined forces. This is the original Tucson Clean & Beautiful program, and serves as our foundation in continuing to work with community volunteer groups to improve our environment and quality of life.
What Impact Do Current TCB Volunteer Groups Have?
Just in the past year, over 8,000 hours of volunteer community service were provided through this program - totaling over 180,000 hours since the program began! This effort, now in its third decade, has an enormous positive impact on the environmental and aesthetic quality of our public spaces, and also has saved the City of Tucson and Pima County millions of dollars in maintenance costs, freeing city & county parks and transportation staff to perform other urgent maintenance.
Sincere community commitment, involvement, and ownership of this program has made it successful. There are approximately 130 (and counting) locations adopted by community groups throughout the Tucson metropolitan area that are maintained by volunteers throughout the year as safe, litter-free areas for all to enjoy! With population growth in our region we need to continue working together to clean up and prevent litter, and educate the public. TCB needs community members like you to get involved to ensure increasing environmental, social and economic benefits of a cleaner community!
What Commitment is Required for Volunteer Groups?
Ongoing, recognized Adopt-a-Park & Public Areas volunteer groups are asked to commit to a minimum of twice-monthly park cleanup and monitoring, or once-monthly for street or wash projects. There is no time limit on the length of the project, as we hope your group will consider this a long-term commitment for many years to come! Many new groups are just starting projects, and a handful of dedicated groups have continued their Adopt-a-Park & Public Areas commitment for years, some since the program began in the mid-1980s!
Do We Get Recognized?
Yes! After volunteer groups successfully complete an evaluation period of at least three months, TCB will make arrangements with the appropriate partnering agency 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. Once the sign is placed, the group may also be acknowledged with a public ceremony. A Partnership Agreement is also signed by qualifying groups, solidifying the ongoing relationship between TCB, the group, and the government agency overseeing the area, to maintain the site.
A minimum of 5 members in a community group is required for an ongoing volunteer project to be recognized. Our current volunteer groups represent a broad cross-section of the Tucson community. TCB welcomes volunteer groups of all ages, particularly community groups such as civic associations, schools, neighborhood associations, religious groups, military, scout groups, and other community recognized organizations & entities. Smaller groups or those not fitting all eligibility requirements but meeting the required cleanup & monitoring commitment may still be eligible for limited recognition. Please contact the TCB Adopt-a-Park & Public Areas coordinator at tcb@tucsonaz.gov or 791-3109 for eligibility.
What Supplies does TCB Provide for Volunteer Groups?
All volunteer litter cleanup projects are provided litter bags upon request, and assistance with disposal of collected litter, if disposal containers are not available near the adopted site. TCB highly recommends that volunteers bring their own leather, latex, kitchen, plastic, cloth or other gloves as appropriate to their project site to keep hands cleaner & safer. If it is a burden for a volunteer group to provide its own gloves, Tucson Clean & Beautiful maintains a limited supply of reusable leather gloves or other disposable plastic or latex gloves, available for registered volunteer groups.
For Adopt-a-Street projects, the City of Tucson requires that all volunteers wear a fluorescent orange or yellow vest to increase visibility. In addition, placement of an orange "Road Work Ahead" sign is required at the beginning points of streetside volunteer projects. Groups may borrow orange vests from TCB for as long as their project is active. Portable signs are also available for ongoing loan to year-round active groups as supplies allow, or will be loaned or placed at street project sites by TCB on a first-come, first-served basis if there are more projects than available signs.
Many community groups also prefer using litter tongs or grabbers to make litter cleanup easier. Due to a very limited supply on hand, TCB recommends that groups or individual volunteers purchase litter grabbers that suit their personal preference. Long-term loan of litter grabbers is prioritized for sites where volunteers regularly remove litter near cactus or dense vegetation (generally, two grabbers), and on a case by case basis for other groups whose sites or individual volunteer ability requires a grabber but purchase would pose a harship.
Please note: TCB is unable to coordinate or support volunteer cleanup projects taking place on privately owned residential or commercial property, or relating to citations issued by inspectors for required maintenance of private property or adjacent easements.
How Do We Conduct a Cleanup?
Volunteer groups working on approved Adopt-a-Park & Public Areas projects may organize themselves to clean up their adopted site on a schedule that suits their needs. Parks especially need litter to be removed following events and holidays. Streets and Washes often need to be checked for litter after windy days. TCB does not require advance notification, unless coordination is necessary for supplies or additional community resources. Trash bags are available at the TCB office. Call 791-3109 when you need bags or to arrange removal and disposal of collected litter.
What Responsibilities Are Required of a Designated Group Leader?
In addition to coordinating the group's volunteers and arranging for supplies and assistance within TCB guidelines, after each project he group leader is asked to submit a volunteer work report. This report record the group's volunteer hours, along with noting any maintenance issues the volunteers encounter. With timely and consistent reports representing the eyes and ears of volunteers, we can work with city and county staff to bring a site back up to our community's standards, and continue to improve the area! Group leaders must keep their volunteer reports & other required documentation current to continue receiving supplies & assistance from TCB. If reporting forms are not received on a regular basis, the group will be contacted and asked to renew their commitment or let another group adopt their site.
Where Can My Group Volunteer?
There are still many areas available to be adopted in all areas of Tucson, including over 100 City of Tucson and Pima County Parks, 140 City of Tucson Street segments, and 140 City of Tucson Wash segments.
Other public areas not listed here may also be available now or in the future through Tucson Clean & Beautiful, if the site is administered by a City of Tucson department, or Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation. Please contact the TCB Adopt-a-Park & Public Areas Program Coordinator at 791-3109 or tcb@tucsonaz.gov for assistance in selecting an appropriate site, or the group is welcome to suggest a site!
Additional sites are also available throughout the Tucson/Pima County metro area through various government jurisdictions.
Other sites not listed as being within the Tucson Clean & Beautiful Adopt-a-Park & Public Areas program may also be covered by one of these jurisdictions:
Some parks, streets, washes, trails, alleyways/easements, and other amenities that can be accessed by the general public may still be the responsibility of a private property owner to maintain. Selected public facilities may also be under private maintenance contracts or have other conditions that make them unavailable for adoption through a publicly-sanctioned volunteer program. If you are interested in assisting with a private property cleanup effort, please contact the private property owner for written permission before proceeding with any cleanup and beautification efforts.
What Other Resources Are Available?
- City of Tucson Department of Neighborhood Resources provides litter bags, rakes, shovels, and other supplies, along with roll-off dumpsters to registered neighborhood associations. A graffiti removal training program is offered periodically, allowing volunteers access to selected supplies for cleaning & painting over graffiti on certain surfaces. In addition, the department's inspectors and programs assist with private property maintenance matters including graffiti removal, inspection of vacant and neglected structures, illegal dumping, weeds, junk cars, improper roadside/utility pole signage and more. Call 792-2489 for more information (for graffiti or illegal dumping in progress, call 911 immediately).
- City of Tucson Environmental Services provides roll-off container rental and waste disposal, for private residential and commercial property cleanup efforts. Fees apply. Additional options are also available for city and county residents and businesses; see additional listings in the TCB Reduce-Reuse-Recycle and Environmental Directory.
- City of Tucson Police Department assists with enforcement of junked or unlicensed cars parked along roadsides or easements. Please call 791-4444 for non-emergency reports.
- Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona coordinates a tool loan program for community volunteer projects. Call 577-9393 to arrange additional tools for your upcoming project.
- Pima County "Take Action Against Graffiti" program, allows area residents to report graffiti incidents outside the City of Tucson but including unincorporated Pima County and other towns & communities such as Catalina, Corona, Foothills, Green Valley, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita and Vail by e-mail to: pctaag@pima.gov or 792-8224.
- Tucson-Pima Arts Council provides assistance with review of murals and other public art projects which might be undertaken to beautify and improve neighborhood public areas and other community-sponsored projects. Call 624-0595 for more info.
How Can I Get More Information and Sign Up My Group?
For more information, download an Adopt-a-Park and Public Areas Program Brochure in English or Spanish. To begin the process of arranging an ongoing or one-time project for your group, please fill out and return the Adopt a Park & Public Areas Interest form.
Please submit your Interest Form at least 3-4 weeks in advance of your preferred start date for ongoing projects or for a one-time event. This will allow time to meet with the group leader, select an appropriate site, secure necessary permission for site adoption, and arrange supplies and other assistance. If you are hoping to begin your project or hold a one-time project sooner, we are glad to assist with projects on shorter notice as available staff time and supplies allow. Contact the TCB Adopt-a-Park coordinator for more information and assistance in arranging a project, e-mail tcb@tucsonaz.gov or call 791-3109.
Additional general guidelines are available on how to Organize a Clean-Up Project, as well as Requirements for Adopt-a-Street Projects, and Requirements for Adopt-a-Wash Projects.
Resources and Forms for Current Adopt-a-Park & Public Areas participating volunteer groups
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