Elmhurst Park District
search

What is the Adopt-A-Park Program?

The Elmhurst Park District’s Adopt-A-Park Program is designed to encourage the community to work hands-on to help keep Elmhurst’s parks clean, attractive and safe for everyone.  This program offers the opportunity for people to get more involved in their community in a way that promotes pride, appreciation and awareness.

What is the Adopt-A-Park time commitment?

Each year, the adoption commitment begins April 1 and concludes December 31.  Applications must be received by June 30 in order to get a recognition sign posted in the park you have adopted.  Groups may adopt a park after that date, but will not receive a sign of recognition for that year.  Each group is also required to set up monthly work dates at the beginning of their adoption through the end of the year.  At the end of the season every group will receive recognition in our winter brochure.

Who can participate?

The Adopt-A-Park Program is open to individuals, neighborhood associations, civic groups, religious organizations, service organizations, schools (school groups and teams), businesses and other community organizations throughout the City of Elmhurst.

What does adopting a park entail?

When a group adopts a park from the Elmhurst Park District, the organization’s members pick up litter, report vandalism, make recommendations to improve the park’s equipment/tree planting/general maintenance and keep an eye on the park.  The main contact for the Adopt-A-Park Program will be the Park Ambassador Supervisor.

How does one go through the adoption process?

The application and information packet for the Adopt-A-Park Program are located on the Elmhurst Park District’s web site (Adopt-A-Park Application), or you can pick one up at The Abbey, 407 W. St. Charles Road; Wagner Community Center, 615 N. West Avenue; or the Wilder Park Administration Office, 225 Prospect Avenue.  After application review, a park will be assigned to your group. The Park Ambassador Supervisor will contact you to set up a time to pick up equipment and receive training.

What are program benefits?

  • It is a great way for your group to spend quality time together and feel good about what you are doing. 
  • Your organization’s name will be acknowledged on a sign in the designated park or area of the park as well as in the Elmhurst Park District’s winter brochure. 
  • You will benefit from the satisfaction of knowing that you are improving your favorite community park. 
  • It will not only better the parks of Elmhurst, but the Park District as a whole.
  • It will give groups a chance to have a hands-on role in keeping their park clean and beautiful.

What are the Adopt-A-Park guidelines?

  • The parks will be assigned to groups on a first-come, first-served basis to be determined by the Park Ambassador Supervisor. 
  • Each group will receive several waiver forms that must be completed on every occasion they are in the parks in order to keep track of volunteers and their hours worked. 
  • All waiver forms must be returned to the Park Ambassador Supervisor at the Wilder Park Administration Office or to the Park Ambassador staff if they are available and on site. 
  • Work is to be completed during park hours only (sunrise to sunset).
  • All participants should be over the age of 18 or accompanied by an adult supervisor.  (i.e., scout and youth groups accompanied by adult sponsors)
  • Groups are to commit to work in the parks one day a month and participate on the Spring Cleaning Day which all Adopt-A-Park participants will be involved in.  Park Ambassadors will be available at those times for assistance. 
  • Groups are required to show up on the scheduled monthly dates, but may also show up other times at their leisure.  If the group has collected a large amount of trash from a park or need assistance of any kind, they are to contact the Park Ambassador Supervisor.
  • Appropriate clothing for weather and work gloves (will be provided) should be worn at all times.   
  • All participants are to follow all of the park policies set by the Elmhurst Park District.  Failure to do so will result in removal from the program. 
  • Those groups that cannot fulfill their commitment to work on scheduled monthly dates will risk being removed from the Adopt-A-Park Program.

The Park Ambassador Supervisor can be reached at (630) 993-8925 (office).