Philly Parks Looking for Volunteers to Help with Spring Cleanup

Love Your Park Week will return to Philadelphia from May 10 to May 18, mobilizing hundreds of volunteers to help beautify and maintain over 100 city parks. Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation host the initiative. It encourages residents to roll up their sleeves and contribute to the health and vibrancy of public green spaces citywide.

Throughout the week, volunteers will participate in a variety of cleanup efforts. Including litter removal, garden maintenance, and planting spring flowers at parks, watersheds, and recreation centers. Key sites for these projects include Suffolk Park, Poquessing Watershed, and Wissahickon Valley Park. All participants need to register in advance, and the tools and supplies will be provided.

In addition to volunteer work, Love Your Park Week will also include walking tours, history lectures, yoga classes, fishing lessons, and activities for families that help Philadelphians connect to the history and beauty of their local parks.

The celebration will culminate in a volunteer appreciation event on May 10 at Carroll Park. This event will feature free food, children's activities, and live music. It will create a festive kickoff for the week's activities.

"More than ever, city parks need local champions," Tim Clair, interim CEO for Fairmount Park Conservancy, said in a statement. "Park Friends groups and Love Your Park volunteers play an essential role in keeping our parks healthy, beautiful, and accessible to everyone. Our park volunteers are a shining example of Philadelphia's civic spirit and shared commitment to high-quality public spaces."

Organizers hope the event will inspire a renewed commitment to public spaces and spark continued volunteerism across neighborhoods. The Love Your Park website has a full list of cleanup locations and events.