Parks and Recreation Volunteer Opportunities

Unable to make one of our pre-scheduled volunteer events? No problem! We are happy to work with groups, corporations, schools, and organizations to create a project that fits your groups specific interest and availability. We work with you to schedule your specific date(s), the type of project, and duration of day. Please fill out the form below and someone from the Volunteer Services team will be in touch within a few days.

We require a minimum of five volunteers and two weeks notice to design a project for your group. 

One Day Volunteer Project Application Form

The following locations accept community service volunteers including students who have service requirements and people who must complete court-ordered community service.

Flatirons Golf Course, 5706 Arapahoe Ave.

Job Description: Light labor and general maintenance
Hours:  Monday - Friday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Bus route access:   Close
Contact:   Jake Jacobs, Golf Superintendent, 303-570-6646

Downtown Municipal Complex Area

Job Description:   Performs general urban parks maintenance duties such as trash removal, litter pick up, weeding, flower/shrub bed maintenance, vandalism repair, and minor repair of buildings and structures using a variety of hand tools.
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. from March through September, times/days outside of this are possible if approved.
Contact:  Nick Haupt 303-579-2940 [email protected]
Bus route access: Close

Pearl Street Mall

Job Description: Performs general maintenance duties such as trash removal, litter pick up, weeding, flower/shrub bed maintenance, vandalism repair using a variety of hand tools.
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to noon from March through September, times/days outside of this are possible if approved.
Contact: Josh Benedict [email protected]
Bus route access: Close

Major Park Sites, including East Boulder Comm. Park, Foothills Comm. Park, Harlow Platts Comm. Park, North Boulder Rec Center, Valmont City Park

Job Description: Performs general urban parks maintenance duties such as trash removal, litter pick up, weeding, flower/shrub bed maintenance, vandalism repair, and minor repair of buildings and structures using a variety of hand tools.
Hours:  Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from March through September, times/days outside of this are possible if approved.
Contact:

• Simon Stec, Harlow Platts Park, 303-519-2097  [email protected]
• Mike Rossi, Valmont City Park, [email protected]
• Jon Kapaun, Foothills Community Park, 303-704-9824 [email protected]
• Afton Fielding, East Boulder Community Park, 720-413-6538 [email protected]

Bus route access: Most sites are close.

Boulder Reservoir 

Job Description:    Performs general maintenance duties such as trash removal, weeding, flower/shrub bed maintenance, boat repair, and minor repair of buildings and structures using a variety of hand tools. Also opportunities may exist to help with various events. 
Hours:  Friday - Tuesday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. year round.
Contact:  Matt Soderberg, 303-704-9164 soderbergm @bouldercolorado.gov
Bus route access:  None

Urban Parks - Entire City of Boulder park system

Job Description:  Mainly performs general urban parks maintenance duties such as trash removal, litter pick up, vandalism repair, and minor repair of buildings and structures using a variety of hand tools.
Hours:  7 a.m. to 2 p.m. from March through September, times/days outside of this are possible if approved.
Contact:  Dennis Warrington, [email protected]

Urban Resources - Boulder Natural Areas, Parks and Boulder Reservoir

Job Description: Mainly performs weed management tasks in natural areas including weed whipping, digging, clipping/pulling and bagging as well as other related tasks. May include some trash removal at various sites.
Hours:   Monday - Friday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., from March through October
Contact:  John Wold 303-906-6675 [email protected]
Bus route access: Variable

We welcome the help of groups and organizations who want to make a difference on Boulder Creek. If your group or organization would like to organize their own Boulder Creek Clean Up please fill out the form found at the link below so we can equip you with tools, trash bags, and the safety standards for volunteer creek clean ups! 

We require a minimum of 5 volunteers and two weeks notice to accommodate your creek clean up.

Boulder Creek Clean Up Registration Form

BPR Park Partners are businesses, clubs, schools, scout groups and religious organizations that commit to volunteer for at least one Boulder Parks and Recreation project annually.

By becoming, a Park Partner your group can choose from projects that require manual labor or ones that connect directly with community members.

Thank you to our Park Partners!

Current Park Partners

Volunteer Calendar

View main city calendar for all upcoming city events, or for more events like this

Adopt-A-Flowerbed

Volunteers, past and present, help develop a strong sense of pride and beauty within the community. They have done an amazing job collecting donations for plant materials, and planting and maintaining their adopted flower-beds throughout the growing season.

There are two Adopt-a-Flowerbed programs. One program calls for adopting an existing perennial or shrub bed and requires weeding and deadheading flowers throughout the season. For those who would like to be more creative, the second program consists of adopting an empty flower bed. This involves designing and planting as well as maintaining the bed throughout the season.

The city is committed to using sustainable, pollinator friendly, and low water plants in our public places. City staff will work with volunteers to determine appropriate plant choices for each flower bed. Plants are by donations only; the city cannot provide plants. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, call 303-413-7245.

Available flowerbeds

• Parkside Park - Newly planted Pollinator Garden located on the corner of  Kalmia & 26 ^th  
• Entrance to the East Boulder Recreation Center This adoption will require planting flowers and maintaining the flower beds throughout the growing season. Staff can help with the design, plant recommendations and donations of plants.
• Columbia Cemetery entrance Adoption of the already established entrance flower bed at Pleasant and 9th street. Maintenance needed on a regular basis through-out the spring, summer and fall months.
• Library Gardens Channel 8 Garden and Japanese Garden: Regular maintenance and cleanup through-out the spring, summer and fall months.

Adopt-A-Park

We are recruiting individuals and organizations to help maintain our 65 parks within the City of Boulder. This is an excellent opportunity to work in your neighborhood park or undertake a team-building project with co-workers. The department will help you choose a park, establish a maintenance schedule and provide you with guidance and support.

These programs provide volunteers with excellent opportunities to gain valuable work experience, make a connection with the community, and meet new people. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, call 303-413-7245.

Boulder Creek Adoption Program -- FULL

The  Boulder Creek Path is a unique and defining landmark for Boulder, Colorado. It is a 5.5 mile paved trail that runs parallel with Boulder Creek to Boulder Canyon on the west end and Stazio Ballfields on the east end. The trail is maintained jointly by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Public Works Department’s Greenway Program.  The trail is used by many and offers great access to parks, shopping, the Library, Boulder Canyon, the Farmers Market and the University of Colorado. It is a popular trail that is used for exercise and alternative transportation as well as fun leisure activities such as fishing, tubing and kayaking.

The Boulder Creek Adoption program provides a way to help keep our streams and multi use path clean and beautiful for all users of the trail and creek while having the opportunity to enjoy nature, be outside and give back to the community.

Thank you to all who have adopted sections of Boulder Creek! Our Boulder Creek Adoption Program is full. One-day cleanup opportunities are available. 

• Boulder Creek Adoption Application and Agreement

The Boulder Reservoir Birds of Special Concern/Raptor Monitoring Program is NOT RECRUITING.

We will begin recruiting in spring 2019.

Training is mandatory.

Responsibilities for this volunteer position include monitoring and reporting animal presence, bird behavior, nest locations, fledgling success and wildlife closure violations, and assisting with educating the public. The minimum volunteer commitment for this program is to monitor your chosen site at least once monthly April – July for a total of at least 4 times. The days are flexible. Each session will be about 1.5 hours. Monitoring is most effective at dawn or dusk.

The training for this program includes a slideshow presentation in the morning followed by an easy walk to the monitor locations. Monitors should be able to work independently and have their own binoculars. Skilled birders with the ability to identify osprey, American bittern, northern harrier and burrowing owl are preferred, but some identification training will be provided for beginners.  The training will cover targeted birds and field protocols, visits to monitoring locations, signups for locations and field trainings, and meeting your fellow program participants.

For more information and to sign up, please fill out the form below or contact Mary Malley, volunteer services coordinator, at 303-413-7245 or [email protected] .

Thanks for your interest in Clean Teams for parks! This is a brand new program. Please enter your contact information below to be notified and get involved with the program from the beginning.

Columbia Cemetery Conservation Corps

Established in 1870, Columbia Cemetery was the first permanent cemetery in the City of Boulder, Colorado. Situated on 10.5 acres at Ninth and Pleasant Streets, the cemetery is a virtual "Who's Who" of early Boulder--a historic, cultural, and artistic resource containing the remains of many of our city's founders and pioneers.

In 1999, a cadre of professionally trained volunteers-the Columbia Cemetery Conservation Corps-was established to assist with simple grave marker repair and conservation tasks. The group has spent thousands of hours documenting, cleaning, and resetting the markers, landscaping, providing educational outreach, and performing minor repairs. Some of their skills and accomplishments include:

• Proper grave marker condition assessment and documentation
• Appropriate cleaning techniques for grave markers
• Safe use of appropriate equipment for moving and setting grave markers
• Proper excavation techniques for partially buried grave markers
• Resetting unstable grave markers
• Trimming/pruning of vegetation
• Research on persons buried in Columbia Cemetery
• Public education and outreach
• Photographic documentation of the grave markers and conservation work

If you are interested in learning more about the Columbia Cemetery Conservation Corps, contact Caitlin Berube-Smith at [email protected]

Volunteers are a vital part of the EXPAND Program. There is no need for previous experience working with people with disabilities to volunteer with EXPAND.This program matches volunteers with people with disabilities. From swimming, to bowling, to gymnastics there are numerous opportunities for volunteer and participants to work together and gain valuable experience integrating their worlds.

Our volunteers are people who appreciate recreation and leisure activities and enjoy working with people. EXPAND believes that training our volunteers is a crucial part of providing a positive experience. The variety of people who volunteer for EXPAND are diverse and unique as the participants we serve and the activities we provide. Recreation and leisure opportunities benefit volunteers, staff and participants.

If you would like to volunteer, see the EXPAND Volunteer Opportunities or call Lori Goldman at 303 413-7256.

EXPAND Program

Volunteers work with youth living in subsidized housing in Boulder. The objective of the program is to involve these youth in recreational and cultural opportunities to encourage positive lifestyle choices. Volunteers contribute to programming needs and accompany participants and staff on outings. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, call Alexis Moreno at  303 413-7217.

Youth Services Initiative (YSI)

The PLAY Boulder Foundation supports excellence in parks and recreation by mobilizing community support through education, philanthropy and advocacy. Volunteers are needed to help support their mission. Sign Up to Volunteer. Visit PLAY Boulder Foundation to learn more about their impact.