Spring is here, and it’s a great time of year to show your favorite neighborhood park some love! This spring, there are 98 parks hosting clean-up service days Saturday, May 7th through Sunday, May 15th for Love Your Park Week 2022. To lend a hand at one of the clean-ups, please register to volunteer today!
Questions? Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Love Your Park Week:
What is Love Your Park Week?
It’s a week-long spring celebration of Philly’s parks, encouraging volunteers to come out to their neighborhood park and lend a hand by tending gardens and flower beds, caring for trees, and cleaning up after a cold winter.
Who runs Love Your Park?
Love Your Park Week is a joint program of Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, in partnership with Philadelphia’s incredible Park Friends Network, which is made up of more than 130 neighborhood-based volunteer groups who steward their neighborhood parks.
Will there be a signature site?
This spring, Harrowgate Park in Northeast Philadelphia is the signature site, joining over 90 other neighborhood parks across the city.
How can I volunteer?
First things first: check the list for a participating park near you, then click the button to register. Most clean-ups are happening on May 7, 14, or 15th.
Why should I volunteer?
Two big reasons to lend a hand:
- It’s a great way to give back to our parks. Parks and open spaces are essential for our mental health and wellbeing, and we are incredibly lucky to have 10,200 acres of parkland, including hundreds of neighborhood parks here in Philly.
- You’ll be contributing to a healthier environment: Planting trees not only beautifies your community, but trees are also natural air purifiers – they help absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen. Cleaning up litter helps keep trash out of our waterways which helps fish, wildlife and the quality of our local drinking water.
What if I can’t volunteer for the dates posted?
Don’t worry: There are other opportunities throughout the year to volunteer for Philly’s parks:
- Our amazing Park Friends Groups across the city host volunteer clean-ups and events all throughout the year. Click here to find your local Park Friends Group.
- Show your support by making a donation to Fairmount Park Conservancy. Funds raised will be used to support programs and projects like Love Your Park throughout Philly’s park system.
What is the best place to stay up to date?
Once you’ve registered to volunteer, you will be connected to your respective Park Friends Group via email with more information. For regular updates, sign up for our email newsletter and follow Fairmount Park Conservancy on social media at @myphillypark on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Bonus: We’re celebrating Love Your Park Week with several FREE events!
Sunday, 5/8 | 10:00 – 11:00am | Yoga in the Park
Find your peaceful place in the greenspace with an all-levels yoga class on the grounds of Lemon Hill Mansion, led by Tula Yoga.
Sunday, 5/8 | 2:00 – 5:00pm | East Park Bike Tour
Join us for an all-levels bike ride highlighting the history & hidden gems of East Fairmount Park, led by Graham Robb.
Thursday, 5/12 | 12:00 – 1:00pm | Behind the Scenes Tour of Fairmount Water Works
Tune in on Zoom for a virtual tour of Fairmount Water Works and the new “POOL: A Social History of Segregation” exhibition.
Saturday, 5/14 | 8:00 – 11:00am | Little Sit: Accessible for All Birdwatching Gathering
We’re thrilled to partner with In Color Birding Club, Philly Queer Birders, and Feminist Bird Club Philly to present a special morning of birding that is intentionally accessible and welcoming to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled people!
Sunday, 5/15 | All Day | Free entry to Laurel Hill Mansion & Historic Strawberry Mansion
Love Your Park is a collaborative program managed by the non-profit Fairmount Park Conservancy and the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Parks & Recreation. It is made possible with support from the Knight Foundation, TD Bank, and PECO. Learn more at loveyourpark.org.
