Brightside Programs

Bloomfest: One day in Autumn volunteer residents from all over the city gather to plant upwards of 10,000 flower bulbs in selected sites across the city. In 2009, 3500 were planted along the Lincoln Ave side of the Haverhill Stadium and the walkway on the opposite side. The cost of bulbs were offset through the adopt-a-bulb fundraising effort. Volunteers take pride in their work and the beauty it brings creates come Spring. This is the premier beautification project founded and continued by Haverhill's Brightside.
 
 

Adopt-a-Park: One of Haverhill's most successful community improvement projects. Individuals or businesses provide for plants and materials while volunteers provide the labor, turning small plots of city land into beautiful gardens which they maintain to keep them looking nice throughout the seasons. Per year, volunteers donate about 1700 hours labor with the sponsors donating an average of $1000 in materials.

Earth Day: In Haverhill, Earth Day is usually celebrated by a city-wide cleanup. Hundreds, if not thousands, of citizens put on their "grubbies" and set themselves to the task of making a big difference in the appearance of the environment and their communities. Cleanup sites are chosen from all over the city. Brightside has always been a big part of Earth Day and we urge all to get involved.
 
 

Community Gardens: Brightside helps neighbors turn vacant, littered lots into lush gardens. Their labor has additional benefits: fresh produce cultivated by their own hands and new friendships forged from a greater sense of respect and appreciation for their fellow neighbors. It's more than just a garden.

Haverhill Goes Green: Brightside's annual environmental fair, Haverhill Goes Green! offers a wide range of demonstrations on green building, home management, landscaping, eating, shopping, cleaning, small-business management and more. The purpose is to educate and empower our communities and the City of Haverhill to make a positive difference on our local environment. The event features speakers experienced in the creation and maintenance of a sustainable environment. Children love the educational activities too.

Burial Grounds: The City of Haverhill was incorporated more than 360 years ago. She has a very long history built through many generations. Some of the Haverhill citizens of today can trace their roots to ancestors who lie in rest the the historic Pentucket and Bradford burial grounds. Preservation of those burial grounds is important because they are part of the fabric that is Haverhill today. Haverhill's Brightside is proud to support the preservation and restoration of these sites.

Arbor Day: Arbor Day's roots go back to 1872. It is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees. Caring for trees and educating people about the importance of trees is also an important part of the celebration. Haverhill has an outstanding track record of planting trees and has been recognized as a "Tree City USA" numerous times. In the islands on Lincoln Ave. near the Georgetown bridge, for example, several different species of trees were planted and they continue to flourish today.