Turning Hesitation Into Action: How Mike Gonzalez Became an Adopt-A-Road Champion
By Amanda Barry
Keep Martin Beautiful, Program Coordinator and Adopt-A-Road Ambassador
“What do I gotta do?” is what Mike Gonzalez thought when he was first encouraged to get involved with Keep Martin Beautiful’s Adopt-A-Road program. Like many people, he had seen Adopt-A-Road signs around town but didn’t fully understand what being an adoptee meant. Assumptions about cost, time, and commitment kept him from taking the first step.
Today, Mike is the 2024 Outstanding Adopt-A-Road Environmental Stewardship Award winner, recognized for his video content that highlights what adopting a road really looks like. We sat down with him to discuss how that initial hesitation turned into involvement and why he continues to be such a dedicated participant in the program.
That turning point came after talking with a friend who had already adopted a road, when Mike realized getting involved was much easier than he expected. Keep Martin Beautiful provides everything adoptees need, including gloves, trash bags, and Mike’s personal favorite, the pickup stick, which he affectionately calls his “handy dandy picker upper.”
Now fully involved, he heads out for cleanups every other month and shares the experience through video content on his social media. “I always try to post a video to show how Keep Martin Beautiful supports adoptees and that it does not take up a lot of your time,” Mike said, hoping to pass along the same knowledge that once inspired him to get involved.
That consistent effort did not go unnoticed, but being recognized as an Environmental Stewardship Award winner still came as a surprise to Mike. “It was as shocking as when I won my second-grade spelling bee,” he joked, noting that in both cases there were many deserving participants. Attending the awards opened his eyes to just how deeply environmental stewardship runs through Martin County.
From children and community groups to local businesses and developers, the event highlighted the many ways people are stepping up to protect the environment.
You can see that dedication firsthand at the 2026 Environmental Stewardship Awards, taking place on April 30, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Willoughby Golf Club. Tickets go on sale soon and sponsorship opportunities are available!
Whether you attend the celebration or choose to take action in your own neighborhood, now is a great time to get involved. Roads are currently available for adoption through Keep Martin Beautiful’s Adopt-A-Road program. Visit keepmartinbeautiful.org to see available roads, or email info@keepmartinbeautiful.org to learn more and discover other ways to get involved.
