As the flowers bloom and trails come to life this spring, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is excited to celebrate National Volunteer Week by spotlighting the incredible individuals who give their time, energy, and support to Portland’s parks and community spaces.
Every day, volunteers across Portland help make our city greener, healthier, and more connected. From coaching youth sports and removing invasive species to leading tours and caring for park land, volunteers support nearly every corner of the parks and recreation system. In the last fiscal year, volunteers contributed 388,995 hours to PP&R—a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together.
Volunteer Impact Highlights:
- 400 Goldenball Basketball coaches helped guide 2,400 players across 200 teams.
- 8,600 natural area volunteers gave 37,900 hours to stewardship efforts, planting over 28,000 native plants and trees and maintaining 98 miles of trail—roughly the distance from Portland to the central Oregon Coast (Lincoln City)!
- Urban Forestry volunteers planted trees, led workshops, and hosted community events, contributing 6,500 hours at 64 events.
- Community Gardens received over 17,000 hours of support, helping grow food and community connections.
- Teen Nature Team youth contributed 180 hours of hands-on stewardship.
- More than 30 Friends Groups volunteered to support and steward parks and natural areas.
- 50 businesses and community groups brought teams to work on stewardship and other projects annually.
From the 45 monthly volunteer group projects citywide to large-scale events like No Ivy Day (382 volunteers at 21 sites!) and the 5K Fun Run Series, our volunteers bring energy and dedication to every project, big or small.
Behind the scenes, more than 100 Portland Parks & Recreation employees provide critical support—coordinating events, offering training, supplying tools, and ensuring a safe and rewarding volunteer experience. It's a true partnership that supports much of what we do.
To each and every one of our volunteers: Thank you! You’re helping create a Portland where parks are cared for, youth are seen and supported, and communities thrive. Whether you volunteer once a year or every week, your impact is real and it’s lasting.
Want to get involved? Join the team that’s making a difference across Portland’s parks, programs, and community centers. Visit our Volunteer page to sign up or learn more.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Portland Parks & Recreation