The Kane County Adopt-A-Highway program always has been a win-win-win for local government, charitable groups and taxpayers, but more and more lately, the program is being used for another “win”: as a way to honor the memory of a friend or loved one.

Adopt-A-Highway is a joint effort between community volunteers and the Kane County Division of Transportation. The program aims to decrease the amount of litter on Kane County roadsides and improve the beauty and quality of the environment. Additionally the program gives civic pride to the community, serves as a reminder not to litter and saves taxpayers’ money.

The program was started in Kane County in 1995 and has hundreds of participating members. Volunteer groups adopt a half-mile to two-mile section of highway for a two-year period. A minimum of two trash collections are required per year. Organizations are given public recognition by signage along the side of an adopted road.

Recent adoptions of sections of highway have been approved as memorials for friends and loved ones who have passed away.

On Oct. 9, for instance, friends and family of the late John A. Beach II, will participate in the second annual John A. Beach II fall clean-up of Allen Road. John Beach died in 2014, and his family organizes the AAH volunteer clean ups and provides a cook out after the clean up to honor and remember their son.

Beach’s family uses the Adopt-A-Highway program to celebrate his life. It also provides them with an event to share their experience and conviction for organ donation, and help raise money for the John A. Beach II Memorial Fund, which donates its money to Eversight and Gift of Hope charities.

Another example of a memorial dedication through the AAH program is on Harter Road, in the rural part of Kane County.

Earlier this year, Kane County Division of Transportation employees adopted Harter Road in memory of their fallen co-worker and friend, Steve Chidester, who was killed while working on Harter Road in May of this year. The annual cleanups will honor Steve and represent awareness for roadway safety, respect and remembrance for fallen workers nationwide.

Many groups use the Adopt-A-Highway program to engage its members in community involvement and civic pride, such as the Boys Scouts of America, Troop 2 of St. John’s Lutheran Church, who adopted Big Timber Road from Coombs Road to Randall Road. Some groups also receive badges or credit from their sponsoring organizations, for volunteering in the AAH program.

Currently, AAH volunteers pick up litter on approximately one third of the county highways, beautifying Kane County and saving the taxpayers a significant amount of money. KDOT’s goal is to have all County roads adopted. Contact KDOT at 630.584.1170 or by email to KDOTcomments@countyofkane.org to find out more information how citizens can support anti-litter efforts by signing up volunteer groups to adopt a section of county highway.

SOURCE: Kane County Division of Transportation

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