Donations, Adopt-A-Park & Adopt-a-Trail
The City of Janesville Park System welcomes volunteer service, cash, or material donations to maintain and enhance our park system. We
welcome projects of any duration although, and encourage ongoing park commitments. Park and trail adoption and donation brochures are
available at the Leisure Services Office. To review or print the Parks Donation brochure, please click the folder icon at the top of this webpage.
Adopt-A-Trail
Because of tighter budgets and Janesville's expansion, the City is continually challenged to maintain and enhance the 62 parks (40 of
which have playgrounds) and 22 miles of paved bike trail that we all love. Each employee of the Parks Department maintains about 30
locations weekly, which includes mowing and maintaining public buildings and grounds, parks, trails and all street right-of-ways.
Therefore, volunteer service, cash, or material donations to maintain and enhance our park system are most welcome. The two main programs
are Adopt-A-Trail and Adopt-A-Park. Volunteers or adopters provide creative ideas or help accomplish projects that the department may not
have the time or money to accomplish. We rely on these volunteers because they have been so helpful, and it saves taxpayer dollars by
avoiding the need to hire more staff. Only about 7 percent of taxpayer dollars is used for parks and recreation programs.
The Adopt-A-Trail program allows families or organizations to be a partner with the Parks Department to enhance and help maintain a
section of trail. Parks crews would continue to patch potholes, trim trees, mow and replace signs; the adopters could collect litter, plant
trees and flowers, donate benches and help monitor and keep the trail attractive and safe. Each section has unique features and
opportunities for enhancements. Participants receive community pride and meet people with common interests.
Currently, 4 sections of the trail are available to adopt. Future sections will be added to the program as the trail expands. The shortest
section is 289 feet and the longest is about one mile. Adopters may choose to provide a cash donation in lieu of performing maintenance
responsibilities. The annual cost to adopt a trail ranges from $100 to $2,000, depending on length. Adopters will be recognized with a sign
on the trail identifying who adopted that section.
Adopt-A-Park
Adopt-A-Park is a similar program that permits groups and organizations to provide their time and talents to our parks. We welcome
projects of any duration and encourage ongoing park commitments. Only about half of the parks are currently adopted.
Residents may question whether the city has too many parks. But the number allows balanced recreation opportunities for all sections of
Janesville. New sections need parks and trails too because the residents who live there are also taxpayers. All residents should be
within walking distance of a park where they can enjoy free, safe and healthy recreation. Trails are intended to serve the entire community.
For more information, please contact Leisure Services. Show your community pride and join us!