Adopt-A-Park’s Mission and Vision
The Adopt-A-Park volunteer program is an example of the Parks & Recreation Department’s vision:
Adopt-A-Park is a key component of the department’s mission to:
- Strengthen Community Image and Sense of Place
- Strengthen Safety and Security
- Facilitate Community Problem Solving
- Protect Environmental Resources
- Provide Recreational Experiences
- Support Economic Development
- Promote Health and Wellness
- Increase Cultural Unity
- Foster Human Development
What is Adopt-A-Park?
Adopt-A-Park is a City-wide volunteer program that enables groups and individuals to assist in the general care and maintenance of neighborhood parks, open spaces, and waterways in San Carlos.Applicable training is provided.
Adopt-A-Park is a program that involves as well as educates the public in what it takes to keep our parks safe and available to everyone, and keep our City clean.
Benefits
By acquiring and protecting valuable resources of neighborhood parks, open spaces, and waterways in San Carlos, natural resources are protected and the habitat required for the survival of diverse species is preserved.Adopt-A-Park helps to provide safe environments for recreation and strengthens community image and sense of place.Our well-maintained and enjoyable parks attract and retain businesses and residents, as well as attract tourists.
Who can Adopt-A-Park?
Anyone! Adopt-A-Park’s aim is to unite people interested in improving San Carlos’ neighborhood parks and open spaces.Our volunteers include businesses, individuals, neighborhood associations, schools, church groups, service clubs, seniors, youth groups, and scouts.
What can be adopted?
Areas within parks that can be adopted include:
- Signs
- Trails
- Play Apparatus Areas
- Picnic Areas
- Gardens
- Athletic Fields
- Landscape Areas
How can volunteers help?
Volunteers can help care for their adopted areas in the following ways:
- Painting and Cleaning Projects:benches, buildings, fences, tables
- Planting and Maintenance:trees, shrubbery, flowers, City gardens
- Clean-up of City picnic and play apparatus areas
- Providing new park equipment:play apparatus, benches, tables, garbage receptacles
- Staff will provide guidance for selection of these items.
- Trail Repair and Maintenance
The adoption process:
- To adopt a neighborhood park or other open space area contact the San Carlos Parks & Recreation Department at (650) 802-4421, 600 Elm Street, San Carlos.
- Obtain, sign and return an “Adopt-A-Park Agreement” form.(If you are under the age of 18, you must have parent’s/guardian’s signature on the agreement forms.)
- Finally, upon approval of your proposal, you will be oriented by staff so you may begin work at your adopted site.
What will Parks & Recreation Do?
Parks & Recreation will provide:
Orientation
- Training for the type of work you will be doing
- Paint needed for painting projects
- Trees and shrubs for planting.Some trees provided by Re-Leaf, part of Sustainable San Carlos.
Parks & Recreation will remove trash that is gathered.
Guidelines:
- Volunteers are required to read and understand the attached Safety Guidelines.
- Volunteers are responsible for keeping track of the number of hours spent volunteering on a monthly basis and report total hours to the Adopt-A-Park Coordinator.Sign-In form is attached.
- Volunteers must abide by all rules and ordinances.
Acknowledgement and Recognition
Adopters receive:
- An official Certificate of Adoption
- An invitation to our annual Volunteer and Sponsor Recognition Event
Pertinent City Park Ordinances
DOG ORDINANCE 6.04.500
No owner or possessor of any animal shall cause or permit it to be upon any park, any public property, or upon any unenclosed premises in this jurisdiction unless the animal is properly licensed, and under the control of the owner by being leashed by a substantial chain, lead rope or leashwhich shall be continuously held by some competent person capable of controlling such animal.
HOURS FOR USE–PARKS 12.12.030
All parks and parking lot facilities shall be closed to the public between the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m.This section shall not apply to buildings located in parks where the hours of use shall be regulated by the Director of Parks and Recreation.
HOURS FOR USE – APPLICABILITY 12.12.040
No persons shall enter, use, cross or remain in a park and recreation facility or area, or the parking lot adjacent thereto, except during the hours that the park and recreation areas and facilities and parking lots are open to the public as provided in this chapter. When an activity concludes at or near ten p.m., participants and/or spectators shall be allowed until ten-thirty to depart from the facilities.
UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES DESIGNATED 12.12.060
A. No person, group or organization using, present upon, or within any park or recreation facility or area, or parking lot, including the immediately adjacent sidewalks and streets, and which bound such public park or parking lot, shall:
- Possess or exhibit an open container of any alcoholic or intoxicating beverage, or consume or drink its contents, unless such person, group or organization has first complied with all State Alcoholic Beverage Control requirements, and in addition obtained a permit for such possession and/or consumption from the Director of Parks and Recreation;
- Ride a bicycle, skateboard or skates on pedestrian pathways or sidewalks, or upon turf areas, athletic fields, courts or planted areas, or within buildings;
- Willfully mark, cut, deface, write upon, disfigure, injure, open, expose, interfere or tamper with, or displace or remove any turf, soil, sand, grass, rock, tree, shrub wood, water pipe, gas pipe, hydrant, stopcock, sewer, basin, bench, table, furniture, utensil, monument, fence, equipment, paving, heavy materials, utility lines, signs, notices or placards, apparatus or any portion of any structure or equipment of any facility, building or other City property whatsoever;
- Enter any area which is posted as being closed to the public to protect growth or establish plants, or which is used as a service facility, or which is under repair;
- With the exception of police officers, no person in or upon any park and recreation facility or area shall take or cause to be taken into that facility or area, exhibit, or use any firearm, air gun, slingshot, firecracker, torpedo, rocket, missile or weapon of any sort, including the use of any dangerous instrumentality in any manner which approximates a weapon;
- Start a fire for any purpose, except in places provided for such purposes.
B. It is unlawful, and a misdemeanor, for anyone to violate any provision of this chapter including violating any of the rules and regulations promulgated for City parks and recreation facilities.



