Twitter
Facebook
The 735th Civil Engineer Squadron recently kicked off the Adopt-An-Area program, a KMC-wide effort to protect and enhance community areas through volunteer support.
Along with the kick off, the squadron agreed to adopt Donnelly Park, one of the largest, most used common areas in the KMC.
Within the past year, $172,200 was cut from the KMC budget for grounds clean up because of the decrease in CE contract funding.
“We want to fill the gaps where the funds were removed,” said Staff Sgt. Shane Dwyer, 735th CES Adopt-An-Area program manager. “We try to maintain the standard of living the base has become accustomed to.”
The program has become necessary as facility maintenance and repair budgets continue to shrink.
According to Sergeant Dwyer, current budgets are not large enough to maintain all areas at the high standards Airmen and families deserve. The Adopt-An-Area program allows interested groups to help keep common areas neat, clean and safe for Airmen and their families.
“It improves community area aesthetics, reduces pollution and improves the safety of base personnel and their families while promoting civic responsibility and community pride,” he added.
Sixteen areas are available on Ramstein, 11 areas on Vogelweh and seven on Sembach. Groups are also welcome to suggest an area.
Any group willing to make a commitment to an area may volunteer. “These groups must make an ongoing commitment to clean up and control litter in the areas they adopt,” said Sergeant Dwyer.
Groups co-sign a 12-month partnering agreement with 735th CES, so each party can affirm their commitment to the program. Groups should check on their adopted areas as needed to keep their areas safe, neat and clean. They are recommended to visit their areas at least weekly to pull weeds and pick up litter.
Groups may also want to schedule larger cleanup events monthly or to focus on making improvements to items within their area. Groups are also responsible for reporting any needed repairs at their adopted area to include dangerous or unsafe conditions.
The KMC Self Help Store with support of CE will assist with all supplies and tools needed. Groups can also accomplish larger improvement projects through CE’s self-help program.
Each installation’s Adopt-An-Area project will be judged quarterly and the group that has taken the best care of their area will be recognized with a traveling trophy for that installation.
The area that wins for each installation will compete for a KMC trophy.“We invite other groups to join us in making the KMC a better place to work and play by adopting an area,” said Sergeant Dwyer.
Interested groups should contact Sergeant Dwyer at 480-6546 or e-mail shane.dwyer@ramstein.af.mil.
(Courtesy of 735th CES)
