The City of Centerville and Washington Township, through their Create the Vision partnership are promoting the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program. This program provides litter removal and beautification in the community, all performed by volunteers. Groups “adopt” a two-mile section or an interchange along a State Route, United States Route or Interstate for two years in which they agree to pick up litter four times per year. Children ages 12 and older may participate in this program, provided they have parental permission and adult supervision. The Ohio Department of Transportation administers this program and installs a highway sign with the participants’ name, as well as provides safety training, vests and trash bags. There is no cost for groups to participate, only their time.

“Litter distracts from this community’s natural beauty,” said Angie Tapogna, Project Manager for Create the Vision. “A visitor's first impression can also be their last, and that is why we are seeking a group to adopt the interchange at Alex-Bell Road and I-675. This is one of the major gateways in our community, and we’d like to find a partner to work with the State to keep it clean,” she said.

“Volunteerism is high in this area,” Tapogna continued, “and we do want to thank and acknowledge the group Community Service for the Deaf for adopting the interchange at State Route 48 and I-675. Ohio has nearly 1,700 groups participating state-wide in this program, but only one in this community, and we’d like to see that number increase,” she said.

Create the Vision is the first-ever joint Comprehensive Plan for the City of Centerville and Washington Township. It is the guiding policy document that provides long-term direction about how and where growth should occur. One of the transportation objectives in the plan is to improve the physical appearance of roads and streets in the community. “The Adopt-A-Highway program is one of 198 strategies identified in Create the Vision, and we’re excited to see the community’s support of this,” said Tapogna.

For more information or to participate in the Adopt-A-Highway program, please call Angie Tapogna at (937) 428-4719.