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Partners in Parks is a beautification program that helps Edmontonians enhance and preserve their local green space.
Neighbourhoods have been kept green, beautiful and clean for over 15 years with the help of dedicated Edmontonians who volunteer in our Partners in Parks program.
Every year volunteers help the City of Edmonton by enhancing maintenance of shrub beds. Volunteering with Partners in Park is an incredible opportunity with many benefits: service to the community, learning gardening skills and keeping active in a safe manner.
If you see a Partners in Parks volunteer hard at work, make sure to let them know how much their effort is helping to beautify your neighbourhood!
Thank you for considering the Partners in Parks volunteer program! The registration period for 2023 is now closed. New participants are invited to complete the waitlist form to express interest and receive registration reminders in spring 2024! Current volunteers will automatically receive registration reminders and do not need to submit a form entry.
Register to be notified when the 2024 season opens.
Partners in Parks volunteers maintain horticultural planting beds. If you see a Partners in Parks volunteer hard at work, make sure to let them know how much their effort is helping to beautify your neighbourhood!
Volunteers conduct work in existing City-owned shrub beds, which are typically located in parks and open spaces. Some work sites are not suitable for volunteers, including stormwater management facilities and in close proximity to roads. Program staff will confirm your work site as part of registration.
Required maintenance activities include:
Optional maintenance activities include:
Partners in Parks efforts boost pride in our city and bring beauty to neighbourhoods. Volunteerism also helps to improve habitat for native plants, birds and pollinators, while also reducing the presence of invasive weeds.
Personal benefits of volunteering include:
Following registration, volunteers will be asked to complete onboarding tasks.
Training includes reviewing the , completing two, short online quizzes and acknowledgement of Operational Health and Safety and Volunteer requirements.
After training, volunteers will receive a bag of program resources. Personal protective equipment including gloves, safety glasses, first aid kit, volunteer badge and site signage are provided by Partners in Parks.
Complimentary items such as native flowers, garbage bags and sponsor donations are also provided.
Volunteers are responsible for their own sturdy, closed-toe footwear such as runners and weather-appropriate clothing. Horticultural tools such as hand trowels and rakes are also the responsibility of volunteers.
Volunteers are required to report when they are working. To simplify this process, shifts can be submitted via the 2023 Shift Log.
Note, this reporting process is only for registered volunteers.
Program staff are very grateful for the time and effort volunteers commit to enhancing beautification in Edmonton. Monthly newsletters share kudos and highlight volunteer sites. At the completion of the season, all volunteers are provided with a thank you letter and tulip bulbs. Individuals that contribute 10 or more hours of service also receive an annual horticultural society membership! Visit the Sponsor section for more information.
Every year Partners in Parks volunteers are asked to complete a short survey about their experience. Some people provide testimonials, such as the ones below, that highlight the benefits of participating.
"It's nice to have an excuse to get outside and enjoy the weather and the dirt! Also nice to see the results of your hard work throughout the season."
"I enjoyed participating in the Partners in Parks program. I enjoyed getting outside in the fresh air, and I was pleased to be able to see my local park looking better because of my efforts."
"Volunteering for PIP (Partners in Parks) is an excellent way to get outside and be active, it was especially valuable during COVID-19 restrictions."
"I enjoy working in my garden which is located beside a well-used trail and enjoy talking to walkers as they go by. It's a nice way to connect with my neighbours and others passing through the community, both verbally and aesthetically."
Is your organization committed to a greener future? The City has set a goal for Edmonton to be a neighbourly city with community and personal wellness that embodies and promotes equity for all Edmontonians. The key indicators for this goal are related to volunteerism and a sense of community. Your contributions can enhance the City’s volunteer opportunities to beautify parks, support recreation and leisure for all ages and abilities, and help us achieve a more neighbourly city!
Is your organization committed to a greener future? The City has set a goal for Edmonton to be a neighbourly city with community and personal wellness that embodies and promotes equity for all Edmontonians. The key indicators for this goal are related to volunteerism and a sense of community. Your contributions can enhance the City’s volunteer opportunities to beautify parks, support recreation and leisure for all ages and abilities, and help us achieve a more neighbourly city!
A longstanding sponsor of the Partners in Parks program, for many years, in-kind donations of EHS memberships have supported volunteers in accessing workshops and training, retail discounts and meeting the community of horticulturalists in Edmonton.
For more information about memberships, special events and workshops hosted by EHS, visit the EHS website.
Earth Alive Clean Technologies creates natural microbial products like Soil Activator to help overcome sustainability challenges related to soil degradation. Earth Alive has donated this product for our volunteers to use to help improve Edmonton’s green spaces.
Partners in Parks has many opportunities for your organization to support volunteerism. Become a corporate sponsor of in-kind products or donate funds to support program resources.
Partner with us to promote horticultural education and skill-development activities or innovative community projects.
| Title | Community Greening Coordinator |
|---|---|
| partnersinparks@edmonton.ca |
| Online | Contact 311 Online |
|---|
If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311
| Telephone | 311 |
|---|---|
| TTY | 711 |
