ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams Beautification group, which has been quietly sprucing up the town since 2022, hopes to bring in more members of the community during a community cleanup day scheduled for Saturday, April 27.

 

"Events such as these promote pride and involvement in the community and a sense of comradery," said Adams Beautification co-Chair Mary Parker. "A lot of exciting things are happening in town, and these kinds of events allow people to participate in improving our town without a large time commitment and at no cost."

 

This is the second community cleanup the group has participated in jointly with the Northern Berkshire Events Committee. 

 

Parker said the group formed in 2022 and is entirely funded by donations and supported by volunteers.

 

"The actual work being done by a solid, dedicated group of five or six volunteers, with others helping as available," she said. "The group got it's start as it became apparent to us that the Adams DPW was unable to keep up the the public gardens along with their regular work. We were interested in helping out in order to present a vibrant, beautiful community." 

 

She said she and her co-Chair Debbie Nowicki met with town leadership to solidify their group and plans. After gaining the town's support, they began their work improving public gardens and spaces. 

 

Their first major project was the green space within the town roundabout.

 

"This was very physical work and the DPW helped out by removing some particularly stubborn plantings. While difficult, the work was very rewarding as we discovered plants and flowering bushes that were previously unseen due to the overgrown weeds," she said. "We placed mulch, planted flowers and moved our scope of work to the  gardens on Hoosac Street, the Visitors Center and the Adams Train Station."  

 

In year one, she said the group put in a combined 200 hours of work. 

 

In the fall of 2022, they planted colorful mums, and added scarecrows, pumpkins, and straw bales to the roundabout, and later placed snowmen and skis as decorations for the winter.

 

Parker said residents have taken notice.

 

"We felt we created some excitement in town and certainly appreciation for our efforts. Passersby would shout 'thank you' and other compliments as we worked, as well as positive comments were posted on social media," Parker said. "Some townspeople sent in unsolicited donations."

 

She said the group was mentioned in the town report in 2022 and were nominated for a Neighborlies award.

 

Adams Beautification now cares for 11 gardens and was recently awarded a grant from the Lenox Garden Club that will be used to overhaul the Visitors Center

 

Cleanup will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants are asked to meet at the Visitors Center for area designations. They are encouraged to bring their own shovels, rakes and gardening tools.

 

Parker said this year the group will partner with Second Chance Composting for a "more sustainable approach of discarding yard waste"

 

"We hope to accomplish dividing some lillies at the traffic circle, cleaning up weeds that are growing along the fence line at the War Memorial Park in front of the former Adams Memorial School as well picking up any litter in targeted areas," she said.