The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 1 recognizes the following Ada groups who have participated in Adopt-a-Highway for more than 25 years:

• Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Ohio Northern University, who maintain a stretch of State Route 235
• Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Theta, Ohio Northern University, who maintain a stretch of State Route 701
• Ada Lions Club, who maintain a stretch of State Route 309
• Ada FFA, who maintain a stretch of State Route 81

These groups earned service awards this week, signed by ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks and District 1 Deputy Director Chris Hughes.

The Adopt-A-Highway Program began during the summer of 1989 and went statewide in March of 1990. Since then, thousands of groups across the state have helped to keep Ohio beautiful.  Over the last 10 years, the program averages a savings of $240,000 per year for taxpayers.

Adopting a highway is free to groups and individuals, but groups should complete four litter pick-up sessions per year to remain active.  ODOT provides vests, grabber tools, trash bags, and trash disposal during litter pick-up sessions.

“We encourage individuals and groups to consider picking up a section of road,” said ODOT District 1 Deputy Director Chris Hughes.

In 2019, 100 active groups with approximately 1,450 volunteers picked up over 400 bags of trash from along more than 200 miles of highway in District 1, which includes Allen, Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Wyandot counties.