MIDDLEBORO — Here’s a chance to own your own island, at least temporarily, while helping to beautify the town.

Middleboro is offering an adopt an island program to allow businesses, individuals and organizations to taken responsibility for the care of a specific traffic island through the 2023 season.

The Adopt-an-Island Program adoption period runs for one year, with a renewal option at the end of that time. Renewal will be subject to the Department of Public Works approval. 

By adopting an island, participants assume all financial responsibility for the upkeep.  

The town also asks that all participants follow several rules.

Participants will identify a traffic island from the list of available sites that they wish to beautify.

Island plantings shall be maintained through first frost. 

Only natural plant material, such as trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, compost and mulch, can be used, unless otherwise authorized. Participants will purchase the planting material and install according to the plan. Invasive plants should never be used.

Participants are responsible for watering, litter removal, mowing, mulching, weed removal and plant replacement as needed. Participants must clean up after the first frost and prepare for overwintering. 

At locations where visibility is not a concern, adopters are encouraged to plant a variety of perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees for greater interest. Where visibility may be hindered by taller plantings, the height of plants shall not exceed 30 inches to avoid impeding visibility for vehicles. 

Signs on the island are provided by the town, which owns them, and include the sponsor’s name. No other wording is allowed. Town employees will remove the signs at the end of the season. 

For a full list of regulations, available island spaces and more information, contact the Department of Public Works at 508-946-2480.