Parkland Stewardship
The Power of Volunteers
Austin Parks and Recreation is grateful to have tens of thousands of volunteers each year who donate their time and energy to stewardship of our parks. Parkland stewardship is any form of enhancing and caring for parks—cleaning up trash, mulching trees, planting, removing invasive plant species, maintaining park infrastructure, restoring watersheds, and more.
Anyone can be a parkland steward, and there are opportunities for both groups and individuals to get involved. Whether you want to take on a long-term commitment at your neighborhood park like Adopt-A-Park or Adopt-A-Creek or just spend an hour cleaning up litter, Community PARKnerships would love to connect you with an opportunity to care for Austin parks and green spaces.
Photo courtesy of The Trail Conservancy
Volunteer Impact
In the City of Austin’s fiscal year 2025, 25,170 volunteers took time to care for Austin parks!
Their accomplishments include:
- Contributing 91,069 hours of work, which was worth more than $3.2 million
- Planting 13,182 trees & saplings
- Picking up 178,752 pounds of trash, about the same weight as 7 school buses
Thank you for keeping our parks healthy and beautiful!
Photo courtesy of Austin Youth River Watch
Volunteer Opportunities
Austin Parks and Recreation welcomes volunteers in our parks! Our Volunteer Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for safe, inclusive, and positive volunteer experiences on parkland.
Community members can find volunteer opportunities through partners that coordinate volunteer work on Austin parkland. Some partners offer opportunities throughout the Austin area, and some focus on specific parks.
The organizations below offer unique opportunities based on their area of focus. Please refer to each organization’s website to learn more or to register to volunteer.
Photo courtesy of TreeFolks
Citywide
Austin Parks Foundation coordinates volunteer opportunities in Austin parks for individuals, civic groups, and businesses to clean up trash, plant and care for trees and native plants, maintain park features, and more. Austin Parks Foundation also provides support and resources to Adopt-a-Park groups and volunteer stewards in parks and greenbelts across Austin.
Keep Austin Beautiful leads community programs to pick up litter, restore waterways, plant trees, build and maintain public gardens, remove invasive plants, and more. You can volunteer in one of our existing programs, get more involved by becoming a volunteer project leader, or organize your own project with our free resources and support.
TreeFolks mission is to empower Central Texans to build stronger communities through planting and caring for trees. They offer opportunities for volunteers to plant trees, help give trees to neighbors, and learn about proper tree planting and care for a healthier urban forest.
Austin Parks Foundation coordinates volunteer opportunities in Austin parks for individuals, civic groups, and businesses to clean up trash, plant and care for trees and native plants, maintain park features, and more. Austin Parks Foundation also provides support and resources to Adopt-a-Park groups and volunteer stewards in parks and greenbelts across Austin.
Keep Austin Beautiful leads community programs to pick up litter, restore waterways, plant trees, build and maintain public gardens, remove invasive plants, and more. You can volunteer in one of our existing programs, get more involved by becoming a volunteer project leader, or organize your own project with our free resources and support.
TreeFolks mission is to empower Central Texans to build stronger communities through planting and caring for trees. They offer opportunities for volunteers to plant trees, help give trees to neighbors, and learn about proper tree planting and care for a healthier urban forest.
Specific Locations
Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro Park
Ecology Action of Texas seeks to protect, reclaim, and connect communities to neglected or damaged remnants of the urban wilderness. The nonprofit works to accelerate ecosystem recovery through biodiversity enhancement, water quality improvements, regenerative land stewardship, and community empowerment. Volunteer opportunities include caring for trees, plants, and trails.
Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach
A grassroots pilot project, Festival Beach Food Forest is an edible forest garden where visitors can openly forage and enjoy fresh food on the shores of Lady Bird Lake. Everyone is welcome to explore or lend a hand. The Festival Beach Food Forest team also hosts regular volunteer workdays to water, weed, mulch, plant, and take care of any other needs.
Violet Crown Trail
Hill Country Conservancy seeks to preserve vital natural resources through conservation, community collaboration, and engagement. HCT partners with Austin Parks and Recreation and other stakeholders to extend, maintain, and enhance the Violet Crown Trail. Volunteer opportunities include trail building and trail clean-ups.
Pease District Park
Pease Park Conservancy is dedicated to the rehabilitation, beautification, and support of Pease District Park for the enjoyment of Austin and future generations. You can sign up for volunteer days held weekly and apply to lead volunteer events in the future. Groups are invited to plan a workday to accomplish stewardship tasks listed on the website. PPC coordinates all volunteering at Pease District Park.
Shoal Creek Watershed, Shoal Creek, & Shoal Creek Trail
Shoal Creek Conservancy stewards the 13-square-mile Shoal Creek Watershed and the creek and trail running through it. Volunteer opportunities include trash pickup, planting, seeding, invasive species removal, and many other projects.
Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail & Town Lake Metropolitan Park
The Trail Conservancy works to protect, enhance, and connect the Butler Trail at Lady Bird Lake for the benefit of all. Volunteers help with ecological restoration projects such as litter abatement, planting, seeding, invasive species removal, and more. TTC coordinates all volunteering on the Butler Trail and at Town Lake Metro Park.
UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum
UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum is the nonprofit operating the Austin Parks and Recreation site of the same name. UMLAUF’s mission is cultivating community, curiosity, and connection through nature, contemporary artists, and the work of Charles Umlauf. Volunteers support visitors to the museum, gardening, educational programs, and more. UMLAUF coordinates all volunteering at the site.
Zilker Botanical Garden
Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy is the nonprofit operating Austin Parks and Recreation’s Zilker Botanical Garden. Volunteers assist with programming and events and help the horticulture staff maintain and improve the gardens by weeding, grooming, mulching, planting, and watering. ZBGC coordinates all volunteering at Zilker Botanical Garden.
Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro Park
Ecology Action of Texas seeks to protect, reclaim, and connect communities to neglected or damaged remnants of the urban wilderness. The nonprofit works to accelerate ecosystem recovery through biodiversity enhancement, water quality improvements, regenerative land stewardship, and community empowerment. Volunteer opportunities include caring for trees, plants, and trails.
Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach
A grassroots pilot project, Festival Beach Food Forest is an edible forest garden where visitors can openly forage and enjoy fresh food on the shores of Lady Bird Lake. Everyone is welcome to explore or lend a hand. The Festival Beach Food Forest team also hosts regular volunteer workdays to water, weed, mulch, plant, and take care of any other needs.
Violet Crown Trail
Hill Country Conservancy seeks to preserve vital natural resources through conservation, community collaboration, and engagement. HCT partners with Austin Parks and Recreation and other stakeholders to extend, maintain, and enhance the Violet Crown Trail. Volunteer opportunities include trail building and trail clean-ups.
Pease District Park
Pease Park Conservancy is dedicated to the rehabilitation, beautification, and support of Pease District Park for the enjoyment of Austin and future generations. You can sign up for volunteer days held weekly and apply to lead volunteer events in the future. Groups are invited to plan a workday to accomplish stewardship tasks listed on the website. PPC coordinates all volunteering at Pease District Park.
Shoal Creek Watershed, Shoal Creek, & Shoal Creek Trail
Shoal Creek Conservancy stewards the 13-square-mile Shoal Creek Watershed and the creek and trail running through it. Volunteer opportunities include trash pickup, planting, seeding, invasive species removal, and many other projects.
Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail & Town Lake Metropolitan Park
The Trail Conservancy works to protect, enhance, and connect the Butler Trail at Lady Bird Lake for the benefit of all. Volunteers help with ecological restoration projects such as litter abatement, planting, seeding, invasive species removal, and more. TTC coordinates all volunteering on the Butler Trail and at Town Lake Metro Park.
UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum
UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum is the nonprofit operating the Austin Parks and Recreation site of the same name. UMLAUF’s mission is cultivating community, curiosity, and connection through nature, contemporary artists, and the work of Charles Umlauf. Volunteers support visitors to the museum, gardening, educational programs, and more. UMLAUF coordinates all volunteering at the site.
Zilker Botanical Garden
Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy is the nonprofit operating Austin Parks and Recreation’s Zilker Botanical Garden. Volunteers assist with programming and events and help the horticulture staff maintain and improve the gardens by weeding, grooming, mulching, planting, and watering. ZBGC coordinates all volunteering at Zilker Botanical Garden.