Credit for that goes to the county’s Adopt-a-Highway program that began in 1991. Adopt-a-Highway gets the community outside and relies on volunteers to pick up debris and garbage next to a two mile section of various county roads.
The county is hoping more individuals or groups will join this clean-up effort.
“We have a total of 198 slots and I’m trying to fill 97,” said Dawn Hill, Anoka County’s Adopt-a-Highway Volunteer Coordinator. “Our numbers have dropped since COVID, but we’re trying to bring ’em back.”
According to Hill, volunteers sign up for a two-year commitment. When finished they get an Adopt-a-Highway sign that can have a group name, business name or pay tribute to someone.
“Civic pride”
The county requires Adopt-a-Highway volunteers to pick up trash twice a year – once in the spring and once in the fall. Volunteers work only in the daylight hours and on one side of the road at a time. They should bring a cap, gloves, long sleeve shirt, boots and not wear headphones.
“We give you a permit and then you call us and tell us the number of people that you have and what date you plan on cleaning up,” Hill said. “Then you come to us and we give you vests for the number of people and bags. We have partnered with Connexus Energy and they have generously donated garbage bags.”
For volunteers this is a win-win opportunity. They clean up road sides and become more connected to their community
“It’s our responsibility as a whole and it is your community,” Hill said. “It’s civic pride. Sometimes people will call me and say ‘hey I saw this group, can we be a part of it next time, or how do I do this?’ It does have a great impact.”
Volunteers can take one day or a couple days to clean up a stretch of road depending on the size of their group. For more info on Adopt-a-Highway contact Dawn Hill by phone (763) 324.3113 or email Dawn.Hill@anokacountymn.gov.
