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The Crossroads Journal

Make a difference: adopt a patch in Highland

By Linda Petersen
Caption: Before and after pictures of the gazebo at Highland City Cemetery. Tyler Dawson cleaned it up for his Eagle project in the spring of 2015 and Jeanie Westover and her family have kept it up. Photos courtesy of Laura Dawson


On many highways and byways across the U.S., Adopt A Highway signs can be seen at regular intervals. Community groups commit to keeping a stretch litter-free.
In Highland, they're doing something similar but with a unique twist. Instead of adopting a highway, you can adopt a patch.
Those patches are pieces of city-owned property such as the cemetery, medians and entrances to neighborhoods that the city can't afford to maintain.
The program started three years ago when Laura Dawson and a group of about eight women began working on those orphan pieces. Each week they would choose a different location.
It's been a pretty successful program, Dawson said, but these days the group has dwindled to just Dawson and Ginger Ford. So far, several areas around the city have benefited from the extra care, but, "If people don't step forward and spend a little time, they won't stay that way," Dawson said.
"We need new people to take a turn or it's all going to go back to weed patches," she said.
Dawson said surprisingly, it doesn't take a lot of time. "You'd be amazed at what you can do with 15 minutes here and there," she said.
Dawson said the city just doesn't have the manpower or money to take care of these areas. She is willing to take any help she can get - from individuals and families to church or civic groups and businesses.
Dawson said she has tried to recruit new helpers in a variety of ways but has so far been unsuccessful. She has a map of the city and can help you choose a spot where you want to make a difference.
There are several adoptable areas available such as Windsor Meadows, Bull River Road and Country Club Drive.
"We have a city full of green space - it's beautiful - but we can't have that until people are willing to pitch in," Dawson said.
If you can spare a few occasional minutes to help keep Highland beautiful, give Laura Dawson a call at 801-310-1009. Even though it's going into winter now, "There's no reason we can't plan for the spring," she said.
The community news source for Eagle Mountain Utah, Saratoga Springs Utah, Lehi Utah, American Fork Utah, Highland Utah, Alpine Utah, and The Cedar Valley, including Cedar Fort Utah and Fairfield Utah. Copyright 2024 The Crossroads Journal LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 


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