04-08-09 PRPride in Our Parks
The City encourages people of all ages, including residents, community groups and
businesses, to help keep Otsego's parks clean, safe and more attractive through the
Pride in Our Parks program. Pride in Our Parks is a partnership between volunteers
and the City whereby participants assist in picking up debris, raking leaves, planting and
maintaining vegetation or other special projects and make visual inspections of park
areas to identify needed repairs.
Participants commit to a one year program of activities that is reviewed by the Parks
and Recreation Commission and approved by the City Council. Otsego Public Works
staff provides basic oversight, tools and materials as may be needed. The City also
places a sign in the park crediting the individual, group or organization for their efforts.
More information about Pride in Our Parks, including application forms, is available at
the links below or by calling City Hall.
POLICY 1
PRIDE IN OUR PARKS PROGRAM
Section:
1.01:
Purpose
1.02:
Participation
1.03:
Program
1.04:
Park and Trail Rules
1.05:
Agreement
1.06:
Waiver of Liability
1.01: PURPOSE: The purpose of the Otsego Pride in Our Parks
program is to encourage business, civic groups or individuals to assist, on a
volunteer basis, in improving and maintaining City parks and trails to provide for
a welcoming and safe recreation experience for all users.
1.02: PARTICIPATION:
A. Eligible Participants:
1 . All persons eighteen (18) years of age or older.
2. Persons under the age of eighteen (18) years of age may
participate provided that at least one (1) person eighteen (18) years
of age or older is present as the primary responsible person to
supervise any work or service performed under the Pride in Our
Parks program.
3. The number of persons within a group participating in the Pride in
Our Parks program shall be sufficient to complete the activities set
forth by the approved program the group has committed to.
B. Application:
1 Requests to participate in the Otsego Pride in Our Parks program
shall be submitted to the City Clerk using the form provided by the
City and shall include the following information:
a. Name of organization.
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b. Name, address and phone number of a primary contact
person at least eighteen (18) years of age or older.
C. Names and addresses for all participants; ages for any
participants under the age of eighteen (18) years.
d. Choice of park or trail facilities to adopt.
e. Proposed activity program.
Other information requested by City staff, the Parks and
Recreation Commission or City Council.
2. The Parks and Recreation Commission shall review the application
and proposed program activities and make a recommendation to
the City Council as to approval of the application taking into
consideration the capabilities of the participants and scope of the
activity program in relation to the facility to be adopted.
3. Upon receiving a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation
Commission, the City Council shall consider the application with
approval requiring a majority vote.
C. Participant Commitment:
Participants will be a positive representative of the City of Otsego
and a good role model for public service within the community.
2. Participants agree to a two (2) year commitment to the Pride in Our
Parks program; a two (2) year commitment shall not be required for
special projects approved under this Policy or as otherwise
recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission and
approved by the City Council.
3. Participation in the Pride in Our Parks program may be renewed at
the end of the commitment period upon recommendation by the
Parks and Recreation Commission and approval of the City
Council.
4. The City Council may terminate a participant in the Pride in Our
Parks program at any time.
D. City Support:
The City Council will award a certificate of appreciation to
participants at a regular City Council meeting.
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2. A sign identifying the participants will be placed for individual
adoptions after acceptance of at least two (2) activity reports by the
Parks and Recreation Commission.
a. The City reserves the right to approve, edit and/or amend
content displayed on the sign.
3. Public works staff will coordinate and oversee participant activities.
4. The City will provide:
a. Trash bags and trash pick-up/disposal.
b. Other hand tools or safety equipment as determined by the
Public Works Supervisor.
1.03: PROGRAM ACTIVITIES:
A. Areas to adopt may include entire parks or particular areas within specific
parks including the following:
1 . Neighborhood parks.
2. Playgounds, picnic areas, sports fields/courts within community
parks.
3. Trail segments.
4. Trees, shrubs, flower beds.
5. Undeveloped park land.
B. Pride in Our Parks program activities may include:
1 . Inspection of the adopted park facilities a minimum of one (1) time
per month to pick up trash, identify needed repairs, light
replacement and report graffiti or vandalism.
2. Park maintenance a minimum of two (2) times per year for trash
pickup, rake grass or sand to remove leaves, sweep shelters,
sidewalks and trails and clean picnic tables and benches or other
activities as approved by the Public Works Supervisor.
3. Planting of flowers, shrubs and/or trees:
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a. Plants to be installed must be of a type and size approved by
the Public Works Supervisor.
b. Participants are required to maintain and water installed
plants for a minimum of one growing season.
C. The scope of work may be limited to adoption of one or more
planting beds within a given park.
4. Other activities subject to review by the Parks and Recreation
Commission and approval of the City Council.
C. Participants shall submit a monthly report of activities to the Parks and
Recreation Commission on the form provided by the City.
D. Activity Rules:
Work or service shall be limited to the approved activity within the
designated area upon City property.
Work or service is encouraged to occur during daylight hours and in
no case shall extend beyond the hours of 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM.
3. There must be at least one (1) person eighteen year of age or older
present or each five (5) persons under the age of eighteen (18).
4. Participants shall wear gloves and closed toe shoes while doing the
work or service.
5. The use of power tools, equipment and machinery by participants is
prohibited, unless approved by the Public Works Supervisor.
6. Participants shall not attempt repair of City owned property and will
report any needed repairs to the Public Works Supervisor, unless
set forth as part of a participant's approved Pride in Our Parks
program.
7. Participants shall not attempt removal of any hazardous or
unreasonably large or heavy items and will report any such material
to the Public Works Supervisor.
E. All activities shall be coordinated with the Public Works Department:
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The date and time work or service is to be performed shall be
approved by the Public Works Supervisor at least fourteen (14)
days in advance of the scheduled activity.
2. The Public Works Supervisor will review any safety procedures and
special instructions with participants before each activity.
1.04: PARK AND TRAIL RULES: Participants in the Pride in Our Parks
program shall comply with all rules and regulations for City parks and trails
established in Chapter 6, Section 7 of the City Code.
1.05: AGREEMENT: Participants shall enter into an informal agreement
with the City of Otsego for volunteer services to maintain and make
improvements within City parks and trails in accordance with a work program
reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission and approved by the City
Council and agreeing to waive liabilities as set forth by this Policy.
1.06: WAIVER OF LIABILITY: All participants in the Otsego Pride in Our
Parks program engaged in any work or service performed under this policy shall
s agreeing to the following:
A. All participants shall assume liability for and save the City of Otsego, its
agents and employees, harmless from and fully indemnify the City for any
and all claims for damages, actions or causes of action of any nature
arising out of the work or service to be done under the Pride in Our Parks
program.
B. All participants shall not be considered employees, agents or contractors
of the City of Otsego and any and all claims made by the participants or
other party engaged in work or services to be done under the Pride in Our
Parks program shall in no way be the obligation or responsibility of the
City of Otsego.
C. All participants shall provide a signed waiver of liability in the form
provided by the City prior to any work or service activity being performed
under the Pride in Our Parks program.
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