By Barb Pert Templeton
Keeping the city looking clean and attractive has Algonac launching a couple of new programs that should help that effort along.
Algonac City Manager Denice Gerstenberg informed officials about the two new programs -adopt a street and an adopt a park, during a meeting on July 18. During the city manager’s report part of the agenda, she explained the idea actually came from people in the city.
“Residents have expressed an interest in adopting their local street so twice a year they will be doing cleanup of that street,” Gerstenberg said. “And we have some service organizations interested in adopting the parks and they would also be responsible for cleaning up those parks twice a year.”
She said applications are available on the city website and at city hall.

The new “Adopt a Park Program” in Algonac will allow groups to volunteer to cleanup any one of five local parks.
Councilman Michael Bembas asked Gerstenberg if individuals can adopt a park or is it just for community groups.
“Individuals can adopt a city street but the adopt a park program is more for a larger group like a service organization or it can be a whole family that adopts a park too,” Gerstenberg said.
She added that the city will provide plaques stating who adopted an area, be it street or park, and they will be put in place near the sites.
The application for the street program requires the applicant to provide a group name and group representative’s name with appropriate contact information. It also states that individuals can participate, it doesn’t have to be a group, and they agree to cleanup both sides of a street for two years.
The adopt a park application also requires the applicant to provide a group name and group representative’s name with appropriate contact information. Under terms of the Agreement the group agrees to adopt the park for a two-year period and must include both start and ending dates.

Signs recognizing those who volunteer to adopt streets and parks in the city will be posted near their sites in the months ahead as the program gets underway.
The five parks in Algonac that are eligible for the program include: Columbia Street Playground, Scout Street Playground, Lions Field, Smiths Field and Riverfront Park.
When contacted after the meeting Gerstenberg said any street in the city except M29, which is an MDOT road, can be adopted. The applicant picks the street they’d like to adopt and puts that information on their application.
The program is up and running now and the first adoptees are members of a family on Virginia Avenue. Those interested are allowed to adopt more than one street or park.
Other rules of the program for both streets and parks include:
- The group must inform the city one week prior to the date they will be cleaning.
- Volunteers are asked to pick up litter at least twice a year between April and October.
- Bags and safety vests are provided by the city and can be picked up at city hall.
- The applicant will place filled trash bags at one location for pickup and disposal by the city.
- If there are any changes during the duration of the program the group must notify the DPW@cityofalgonac.org.
- The group will hold the city, its agents and its employees harmless for any and all injuries suffered or sustained while participating in or as a result of participating in the program.
- The Group or Applicants shall agree to hold the City harmless and shall defend and indemnify the City for damages caused or injuries sustained as a result of any negligent or willful act of any applicant member while participating in the park or street programs.
- If volunteers are under 16 the group must provide appropriate supervision with at least one adult
To find out more about the programs visit the City of Algonac website at cityofalgonac.org.