Adopt an Island

The Adopt an Island Program is a comprehensive clean-up and awareness program, seeking support from all segments of the community. This program seeks sponsors and volunteers to work in partnership with the municipality and allows these sponsors to choose a traffic island or median that they can maintain and beautify.

The municipality cannot do it alone, but with your help we can make a big difference. By adopting islands and working in partnership, we can make Worcester more beautiful than it already is. Adopting an island will allow sponsors the opportunity to help the city and show their pride in the community. We encourage all to participate and look forward to a variety of clean and colorful islands.

• The adopted island can either be grass, concrete or asphalt. The sponsors can be individuals, a group, businesses, residents, young people or seniors; all are welcome.
• Sponsors are responsible for the planting and maintenance of islands from April through November. Any dead plantings must be replaced and islands need to be weeded and cleaned as often as necessary.
• The Department of Public Works/Department of Parks, Recreation & Cemetery will provide up to two (2) bags of mulch for small areas (while funding lasts) and allow compost material to be picked up at the Residential Drop-Off & Recycling Center at no cost.
• Unfortunately, DPW/Parks cannot provide for watering of any plantings, so this must be done solely by the sponsors. Plantings, shrubs, small fences, stone, etc. will be paid for by the participants.
• The municipality's appreciation will be shown by providing the sponsor a 2-foot by 2-foot sign with the sponsor's name to be prominently displayed on their adopted island, a letter of appreciation and an adoption certificate.

Learn more about the Do's and Don'ts of adopting a traffic island/median. Interested parties can fill out the application below or call the DPW Customer Service Center at 508-929-1300 with any questions.

Application