With spring finally arriving, the Benson Park Advisory Committee is preparing to welcome volunteers back for another season of community clean-ups. During its March meeting, the Committee finalized dates for seven Volunteer Clean-Up Days in 2026: April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, and Oct. 17. The April 18 event will be the first of the year and the primary focus of the Committee’s planning efforts.
“Our next Volunteer Clean-up Day is coming up real fast,” said Committee member Sue Clement. “I’m going to send out emails to existing volunteers soon.”
The Friends of Benson Park will help kick off the season by hosting a volunteer meet and greet that morning. “The Clean-up is on April 18, and the Friends of Benson Park is going to host a volunteer meet-and-greet with some breakfast goodies and coffee,” said Natalie Newell, Chair of the Friends Board. “They’ll get to meet everyone and talk about what needs to be done in the park. It starts at 9 a.m.”
Clean-up days typically run until 2 p.m. and include a provided lunch at noon. Selectman Liaison Heidi Jakoby encouraged local businesses to consider donating food. “We usually have 30 or more people who attend. Something light; sandwiches, pizza, whatever would be appreciated,” she said. Anyone interested in donating can contact Jakoby, the Benson Park Committee, or the Friends of Benson Park through their website.
To boost volunteer turnout for Clean-Up Days and other park programs, including the Benson Park Store at the Elephant Barn, trash pickup, and the Adopt-A-Spot program, the Committee approved the purchase of new vinyl signs to be placed at park entrances. The signs will include a QR code linking to volunteer information and the full list of Clean-Up dates.
“We did this last year, and it really bumped up the amount of volunteers we received,” Clement said. “This winter alone, I’ve had about six more Adopt-A-Spot applications come in. It’s awesome, and I’m so excited that people are excited to come into the park and get things done. We have a lot to do, and we can always use more people.”
According to Jakoby, more than 40 residents now participate in the AdoptASpot program. “We work together as a group, and anybody who doesn’t want to do an Adopt-A-Spot, we invite them to help with anything at the park,” she said.
Committee member Matthew Pelletier noted that signage played a role in his own involvement. “As a volunteer, that’s how I came into it,” he said. “It was the sign and putting all of the dates into my phone. It was really helpful to have it there.”
Residents interested in volunteering can sign up through the Benson Park Advisory Committee.