According to the Colorado Department of Transportation Web site, millions of dollars are spent annually to clean up the litter from America’s roadways. One way citizens can help control the litter and beautify their communities is to participate in an adopt-a-road program.In the Falcon area, there are two ways to participate.CDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program and El Paso County’s Adopt-A-Road program need volunteers to pick up litter along the roadways. Through either program, individuals, groups or families may apply to adopt a section of roadway approximately two miles long. The participants agree to pick up litter along both sides of their section about four times per year.Both CDOT and El Paso County provide trash bags and safety vests for the volunteers. In addition, CDOT provides a safety video and a methamphetamine lab waste recognition video and requires all volunteers to view the videos.Both programs post a sign at each end of the adopted section, crediting the participants for their community service. Participants in both programs are encouraged to sort out recyclables, and any return on the items is theirs. The volunteers leave the filled trash bags by the side of the road and notify the department for pickup.The CDOT Adopt-A-Highway program includes Highway 24 in the Falcon area. Currently, only one mile of the highway in Falcon’s vicinity has been adopted – the Stockmen 4-H Club has taken responsibility for that stretch. Several more miles of the highway near Falcon are up for adoption, and volunteers are needed.According to the CDOT Web site, Texas instituted the first state Adopt-A-Highway program about 20 years ago. Today, 49 states have programs with a combined force of more than 960,000 volunteers.El Paso County’s program has been in operation for 10 years. Pamela Podhirny, who oversees the program, said the county has a variety of participants. Groups of all ages are encouraged to participate, though younger groups must have adequate adult supervision. Some Falcon area groups that have adopted roads include the Falcon High School Student Council, the FICOSA Group Center, and the Falcon Fire Protection District. Roads can also be adopted as a one-time community service project.Falcon Highway is No. 5 on the county’s top-10 list of roads in need of adoption. There are 12 miles available for adoption, from Highway 24 to Ellicott Highway. Podhirny said that any county road is eligible. “We really do appreciate those who volunteer to clean up the roads,” she said. “There’s 2,000 miles of county road out there and a lot of them could use some cleaning up.”H.D. Mitchell, a retired resident of Paint Brush Hills, adopted Rex Road three or four years ago. Mitchell considers the clean up part of his exercise program. He said picking up the trash is a pleasant experience; passersby are friendly and usually wave. Mitchell moved here from California, and enjoys clean roads. “It’s so great to drive in Colorado because they keep the roads so clean,” he said. “I was transferred with the Air Force out here from California and it’s just terrible there, with the trash along the roads. It’s so refreshing to see them nice and clean. I just wanted to be a part of that.”Furry Friends, Inc., owned by Debbie and Terry Brookham, adopted a section of Meridian Road in February. Debbie Brookham said that adopting a road is a great way to give back to the community that has helped them grow their business.The Brookhams picked up the litter on their section of road on Mother’s Day. It took the two of them six hours, and they filled 20 bags of trash. In spite of the hard work, Debbie Brookham said they really enjoyed it. “It was really fun,” she said. “A lot of people honked, and bicyclists stopped and said thanks … it made us feel really good for doing it.” However, she has solicited help from customers for the next clean up, and she said the response has been positive.Brookham said the majority of the litter was aluminum cans and cigarette butts, although they found an Elizabethan dog collar and a sledgehammer.”It’s something we ought to all do,” she said. “It’s our backyard, so why not keep it clean.”To participate in Colorado’s program, contact Charlene Griego at 719-546-5426.To adopt a county road, contact Pamela Podhirny at 520-6460 or e-mail her at pamelapodhirny@elpasoco.com.
