Adopt a Highway: A final (and Final Four) cleanup of my first mile

Two years ago, when I adopted a mile of State Route 87 a few miles north of the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway, I imagined dutifully cleaning up well into my twilight years. Then I faced the reality that my teenage son and fellow high schoolers who needed required service hours are graduating and moving on. There goes my chief source of volunteer help.

I decided not to renew my Adopt a Highway permit, which lapses next month, while I search for a new way to organize volunteers and find a location that works for all. Then I went out this past weekend for a final cleanup and to bid farewell to my mile. As I've done following every other cleanup, I'll share some thoughts, this time as farewell messages. 

To people hauling items to the landfill a few miles north of the section I clean: Secure your loads.
When I visited my mile between the men's Final Four games and before the NCAA women's basketball championship game, I fittingly removed a basketball backboard with hoop attached -- fortunately from the side of the road. I cringe at the thought that someone could have run over this thing or, worse, that it could have struck a bicyclist or pedestrian. Over the past two years, other volunteers and I have removed a twin mattress, lumber and other large items that obviously weren't secured properly. You can learn more about securing loads here.

To a few (but too many) southbound drivers and passengers: I won't miss cleaning up your empties.
Early on, I wrote about wondering why the southbound roadside had so many bottles and pieces of bottles that once contained alcoholic beverages. Readers confirmed my suspicion that people are pitching these on the way back from points north -- and added a reason that I found truly depressing. I won't share that reason other than to note that it helps explain why so many crashes across Arizona involve people under the influence of alcohol. I hope these drinking drivers and passengers grow up before they do greater harm than spoiling the roadside with broken glass. I think this problem is exacerbated by the location of my mile between the high country and water recreation sites to the north and the East Valley to the south.

To those who helped clean up my mile: Thank you.
I've had few nicer mornings than those spent with people dedicated to keeping Arizona grand by helping clean my mile. The spirit I've seen in these volunteers and others I've met around the state is truly inspiring. It's why I know I'll be back as a volunteer in the coming months. 

To people who've read my blogs about volunteering: Please join in.
Consider adopting your own mile by visiting azdot.gov/adoptahighway. It's a two-year commitment, and you'll get a recognition sign on your mile after your first cleanup. 

I expect to be back soon sharing my Adopt a Highway experiences once I recruit a new group of volunteers.