Published March 10, 2025
More than 300 volunteers needed for this year’s Adopt-A-Park Earth Day celebration
Five Rivers MetroParks will host its largest annual day of service, Adopt-A-Park, on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to noon at multiple sites across Montgomery County. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to help MetroParks staff spruce up green spaces and work on special projects that protect the region’s parks and waterways. Registration is required and available online at metroparks.org/adopt.
Volunteers of all ages, accessibility levels and backgrounds are needed for 23 projects at 16 different sites. Eight of the projects available are a good fit for families.
“Many of the projects this year are open to volunteers ages 14 and older, so Adopt-A-Park is a great chance for families and youth groups to spend some time together outside giving back to nature,” said MetroParks Volunteer Coordinator Allison Zimmerman.. “It’s the perfect way to celebrate Earth Day.”
Projects include tasks from planting trees and shrubs to collecting litter. Project highlights include:
- Gardening and/or planting trees/shrubs at Wegerzyn Gardens, Possum Creek, Aullwood Garden and Carriage Hill MetroParks
- Litter removal at Island, RiverScape and Twin Creek MetroParks
- Invasive species removal and habitat restoration at Hills & Dales, Taylorsville, Sugarcreek and Island MetroParks
- Painting and fence maintenance at Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Mulching at RiverScape and Sugarcreek MetroParks
Participants can sign up as an individual, family or group. Those who want to register as a group are encouraged to register early.
Because all Adopt-A-Park volunteer projects are outdoors, participants should dress for the weather and the activity in which they will be participating. Supplies will be provided depending on the project, but individuals may want to bring gloves and a refillable water bottle.
A limited number of Adopt-A-Park Service Kits–—pre-assembled kits for participants to safely clean greenspaces on their own time–—will be offered to groups of volunteers who wish to take on their own local litter removal projects. To learn more and request a kit, visit metroparks.org/adopt.
During 2024’s Adopt-A-Park, 287 volunteers provided a total of 699.16 service hours, during which:
- 200 pounds of landfill litter and debris were collected from the parks and riverways
- 5.5 acres of invasive plants were removed
- 102 trees/shrubs were planted
- 60 Adopt-A-Park Service Kits were distributed
“MetroParks staff manage nearly 16,000 acres of land, including 35 facilities, 191 miles of natural surface trails and large amounts of the region’s river corridor,” said Jenny Hymans, MetroParks human resources and volunteer manager. “MetroParks staff truly need help from volunteers in order to support the region’s natural heritage during Adopt-A-Park and year-round.”
Indeed, volunteers are needed year-round for a variety of tasks, from assistance with conservation efforts to supporting special events. Learn more about becoming a volunteer for other projects and more at MetroParks’ volunteer site, Get Connected.
Adopt-A-Park is sponsored by Montgomery County Environmental Services, Keep Montgomery County Beautiful and QEI Engineers.
