Our Year in Review
Volunteers don’t just do work in parks, they make a lasting impact in our community. Beyond trail maintenance, invasive species removal, litter pick-up and planting trees, volunteers are moving mountains to transform Eugene into the place we call home. Volunteers are your neighbors, your friends and colleagues, local businesses and employers: going out, getting dirty and giving back. We are excited to share the amazing work that we accomplished in 2022—this year was a year for the books!
By the Numbers
21,193.5 total volunteer hours valued at $634,745.32
149 cubic yards of trash picked up
489 trees planted
2,549 shrubs/forbs planted
958 cubic yards of vegetation removed
31 park adoptions
46+ partnerships
Clean Water, Clean Rivers
Each year we focus on one topic that showcases how volunteers are addressing our community’s most pressing issues. This year we chose to highlight the many ways that volunteers are helping keep our rivers clean through mitigating the impacts of stormwater.
Stormwater is runoff generated from precipitation that flows over and collects on impervious surfaces, such as buildings and roads. Stormwater often contains pollutants like heavy metals, pesticide residue and fertilizer runoff. Polluted stormwater is a concern for cities and nearby waterways because it can negatively impact water quality and habitat in local watersheds.
Volunteers are contributing in a variety of ways to keep our water and our rivers clean:
- Planting trees and native shrubs to help absorb and filter stormwater as it seeps into the ground.
- Removing invasive species so stormwater can flow uninterrupted.
- Supporting native habitats to promote biodiversity along waterways.
- Removing trash along waterways so that it doesn't end up in the river.
Our volunteer program plays a significant role in educating the public about stormwater. Volunteers who are engaged in stormwater management are empowered to become stewards of healthy water systems in their own community. To learn about our events and outreach opportunities that support healthy stormwater, see our latest Stormwater Annual Report.
Maximizing our Impact through Partnerships
The Parks and Open Space Volunteer Program fosters numerous community partnerships throughout the City of Eugene. Park adoption groups commit to holding four work parties a year to stewardship in a specific location. This year, we welcomed Mountain Rose Herbs, UO Student Sustainability Center, Friends of Terra Linda and Friends of Oakpatch East to our growing list of park adoptions. A greater and also growing list of community partners helps us get work done and build connected communities. We'd like to extend our thanks to all the individuals and groups that are making Eugene’s green spaces thrive.
Regions
From the banks of the Willamette River to the Ridgeline trail system and everything in between, volunteers worked across the city to help steward Eugene’s parks and open spaces. The following sections detail the different areas and landscapes where volunteers make an impact, with highlights of our most exciting accomplishments in 2022.
Developed Parks
Activating Neighborhood Parks for Families, Children and Community
Developed parks are at the hearts of our neighborhoods. These parks provide outdoor space for children to play, opportunities for communities to connect and habitat for urban wildlife in areas surrounded by pavement. Volunteer opportunities are abundant, and include painting park furnishings, weeding and mulching landscaped beds, resurfacing walking paths, cleaning playground equipment and more. Our partnerships with AmeriCorps NCCC, Northwest Youth Corps, the Mission’s Life Change program, the Church of Latter-Day Saints Missionary program, and park adoption groups help us keep these parks vibrant and safe for all to enjoy.
Natural Areas
Stewarding our Natural Areas and Trails
Our natural areas and trail systems are an escape from the bustle of city life and provide valuable habitat for wildlife. With over 5,200 acres of natural area parkland including the West Eugene Wetlands, Ridgeline system and neighborhood natural areas, there are lots of ways volunteers are engaged in stewardship. For example, clearing out ivy and blackberries, rebuilding trails and installing new ones, and planting native shrubs and trees help these natural areas thrive. Our longstanding partnerships with groups, such as the Obsidians and Churchill High School’s Rachel Carson Academy, provide opportunities for youth, families and community members to become park stewards.
Waterways
A Community Takes to the Water
Our waterways are a defining part of what makes Eugene such a beautiful and unique place to live. Volunteers help us by picking up trash, removing invasive species, monitoring pond turtle nests and restoring riparian areas. In addition to established stewardship events , 2022 saw an increase in independent volunteerism on the water. With support and resources from the Volunteer Program, Eugene’s waterways currently host over a dozen individuals and small groups working to restore habitat along the Willamette River, Amazon Creek, Golden Gardens, Delta Ponds and Empire Pond. We greatly appreciate their work helping to keep our waterways clean, healthy and safe!
The Urban Forest
Nurturing Resilience and Equity, One Tree at a Time.
Trees provide numerous benefits to our city including filtering air, providing habitat for wildlife, and cooling the air amid a warming climate. Unfortunately, trees are not equitably distributed in our city, with some neighborhoods facing hotter temperatures and more pollution. Volunteers are helping us increase the tree canopy in neighborhoods that are currently underserved. They add a variety of species to our parks and urban forest, which increases resilience to disease, pests, and climate change.
Rain Gardens and Bioswales
Mitigating Pollution at the Curb
Rain gardens and bioswales treat stormwater from streets, buildings and other impervious surfaces. Bioswales work like native forests to remove toxins and filter water from runoff. Volunteers help us plant native species, prune shrubs and remove old plant debris.
Right-of-Way
Preserving Public Access
While our program has historically supported volunteers in parks, we also support volunteers working in the right-of-way. Volunteers help remove trash, paint graffiti, and remove vegetation to keep sidewalks, bike lanes and medians safer for cyclists and pedestrians to use. If you need tools to clean up sidewalks, paths, or other right-of-way areas in your neighborhood, we can support you, too!
Volunteer Project Highlights
Volunteering at a local park is a great way to get to know your community, hone your plant knowledge and lend support to some of our most popular green spaces. The Volunteer Program is proud to offer numerous weekly and reoccurring stewardship opportunities across the City. If you are not sure where to start, be sure to check out these established volunteer events! Here are some of our most exciting volunteer achievements from the past year.
Hendricks Park
Every Tuesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Rhododendron Garden
Every Thursday 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Native Plant Garden
Every Saturday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Forest Keepers
Community-Driven Restoration
As the City of Eugene’s oldest park, Hendricks Park has enjoyed a long history of civic engagement. Thanks to a generous donation from the Friends of Hendricks Park and a new partnership with the University of Oregon’s Student Sustainability Center, an exciting new restoration effort has started on the West Trail. This is the first time in the park’s history that this forested trail has been actively improved. Students and volunteers have teamed up to remove acres of invasive ivy and blackberry and reestablish a native understory of Pacific Northwest plants. Through this community-driven effort, the West Trail of Hendricks Park is on its way to reestablishing a healthy, diverse forest floor.
Owen Rose Garden
Every Wednesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Old Garden Roses
Every Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Formal Roses
Renewed Focus on Old Garden Roses
Volunteerism at the rose garden has flourished for years, but in 2022 we harnessed this energy to showcase our collection of Old Garden Roses – the largest collection on the West coast! We added an additional weekly drop-in volunteer event on Wednesdays specifically focused on stewardship of the old garden rose section. Volunteer docent-led tours of the garden began on a weekly basis through spring and summer. And we strengthened our partnership with rose experts in the Eugene Heritage Rose Society. This energy led to the renewal of the old garden rose beds, creation of new species-focused beds and better signage of the roses. Volunteers are essential to keeping the rose garden beautiful for all to enjoy!
Alton Baker Park
2nd Thursday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Growing Volunteerism at Eugene's Largest Park
With 413 acres of both developed and natural areas, Alton Baker Park provides countless opportunities for environmental stewardship. Volunteers met monthly to remove invasives around the Duck Ponds, restore the Sebring Rock Garden, maintain trees in the Hays Tree Garden, monitor seedlings and bees in the Whilamut Natural Area, remove Yellow Flag Iris from the Canoe Canal and clean up trash on the Willamette riverbanks.
Native Plant Nursery
Every Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Seeding the Future
The City of Eugene's Native Plant Nursery supports our many urban restoration projects with seed and plants, saving tens of thousands of dollars in restoration costs. Unique to the City of Eugene, a municipal plant nursery is possible due to impressive support from volunteers and interns. 2022 was another successful season, filled with weekly volunteer events and partnerships with groups such as Rachel Carson Academy, University of Oregon, LDS Missionaries, Mission Life Change, NW Youth Corps and Bushnell University all helping to maintain beds, collect and clean seed, and plant or seed thousands of plants. Thanks to the dedicated weekly volunteers and everyone who contributed their free time this year to keep the nursery running!
Community Gardens
Growing Food, Feeding Families
Over 400 garden plots in six community garden locations provide gardeners space to grow their own food and connect with community. From delicious heirloom tomatoes to frost-sweetened kale, these gardens support year-round access to fresh, healthy produce. Our garden program also partners with community organizations, such as Huerto de la Familia, Allies, Suddenly Sleepy and others, to support mental wellness, learning opportunities and increased food security. 37 scholarships offered opportunities for low-income community members to grow healthy food for their families.
Meet Our Team!
Our team of Volunteer Coordinators is passionate about helping community members connect with their parks and natural areas. Whether you're interested in individual stewardship, workplace volunteerism, or just getting outside, our team is here to lend support!
Cait Wisbeski
Hendrick’s Park Volunteer Coordinator
Cait joined the team in 2022 as the Hendrick’s Park Volunteer Coordinator. She has worked in community outreach, planning, conservation, and adaptive recreation. Cait is passionate about bringing communities together through a shared love of nature. She is currently finishing her degree in Natural Resource Policy & Management at OSU. When she’s not working in her own gardens, she enjoys camping, bicycling, and spoiling her backyard chickens.
Danielle Klinkebiel
Developed Parks Volunteer Coordinator
Danielle Klinkebiel joined the team in 2019. She manages volunteerism in developed parks, bioswales, and community gardens. She has over a decade of experience leading community engagement around environmental stewardship. She has degrees in Nonprofit Management and Urban Planning. Her favorite parks to visit with her two young children are Charnel Mulligan Park, the Ruth Bascom river path, and Wild Iris Ridge.
Evan Gammon
Natural Area and Tree Volunteer Coordinator
Evan joined the team in 2022. He works with volunteers stewarding Eugene's Ridgeline, Neighborhood Natural Areas and Wetland parks, as well as coordinating volunteer tree planting efforts system wide. He has a degree in Geography and Land Use Planning, and over 20 years of experience working with volunteers in habitat restoration, trail building and tree planting. His favorite parks are Meadowlark Prairie and Gillespie butte.
Kelsey Irvine
Native Plant and Waterways Volunteer Coordinator
Kelsey Irvine joined the team in 2017. She operates the Native Plant Nursery and coordinates volunteer efforts along waterways. Her background includes degrees in art and restoration ecology, nursery and garden center work, landscaping and environmental landscape design. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, play music, spend time with friends and is looking forward to family moving to Eugene!
Looking Ahead to 2023
Reinvestment in Your Parks
As we look forward to 2023, the Volunteer Program will focus on ways to enhance and support existing parks programs. Our community has voiced a desire to activate park spaces and reimagine what it means to engage in communal stewardship. We’ll return to our roots to expand volunteer opportunities, grow our network of partnerships and renew ties to our community. Together, we can build a more resilient future for parks and natural areas.
Our Weekly Volunteer Events
Every Tuesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden
Every Wednesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Owen Rose Garden, Old Garden Roses
Every Thursday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Alton Baker Park *New pilot in April and May
Every Thursday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Hendricks Park Native Plant Garden
Every Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Owen Rose Garden, Formal Roses
Every Friday 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Native Plant Nursery
Every Saturday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., February through June | Hendricks Park Forest Keepers
Third Saturdays 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Starting in April | Stewardship Saturdays in Natural Areas
Our 2023 Annual Volunteer Events
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Tree Planting | January
Spring for your River | April—May
Bee City | May
Willamette River Festival | August
Off with Their Heads, Owen Rose Garden | August
Great Willamette River Cleanup | October
Trees for Troops | November
Visit our website for more details on our upcoming events.