Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are an intergral part in helping Anchorage Parks and Recreation achieve its mission of Healthy Parks, Healthy People.
Every year, our dedicated volunteers beautify Anchorage's parks and trails through picking up trash, building trails, reporting crime, pulling weeds, removing graffiti, planting flowers, and so much more. More importantly, our volunteers build relationships with each other and within the communities they serve.
Curious about how you, your organization, or your community can be involved? Click on the links below to learn more about our individual programs, or contact Parks and Recreation at 343-4355.
Upcoming Volunteer Events
September 28 - Brancroft Park Volunteer Event, 9am-1pm, 1497 Alpenhorn Ave
We will be working with community members and the Alaska Military Youth Academy to limb and thin vegetation in Bancroft Park, along the Campbell Creek Trail. Tools, gloves, and PPE provided; pizza will be provided to volunteers at the end of the event. We will meet close to the ball field. There is some parking near the park gate, and plenty of on-street parking.
This event is spilt into two different trails, on opposite sides of Goose Lake Park. The Enchanted Trail occurs during daylight and dusk hours (4:30-7pm), specifically aimed to charm small children. The Haunted Trail starts after dark (7-9pm). Each trail has a soft-surface trail that meanders through a forest to various “Scenes". The Enchanted side has carnival-type games and characters that children can take photo ops to capture the moments. The Haunted trail focuses on spooky scenes that freak and frighten participants (no violent references will occur). You, as a volunteer, need to choose a Trail and choose a Scene when you sign up. All scenes have costumes but if you have a great costume that you would like to use, please let us view it prior to event. You will arrive early enough to try on your costume and apply makeup, then you will be escorted to your location on the trail and briefed on your roll and given safety tips. More information will be provided after application is reviewed. Groups & clubs are encouraged to join. Sign up to volunteer.
Programs
Adopt-A-Garden
Adopt-A-Trail
Graffiti Busters
Trail Watch
Recreation programs - If you have a talent you'd like to share, consider teaching at one of our Recreation Centers. Volunteer to teach a class, help with little swimmers, or share your passion and talent for sports with Anchorage youth. Some volunteer opportunities may require a background check.
How to Report a Problem
Use the guide below to report any issues you see in municipal park land:
Homeless Camp Reporting
Trail light outages: Contact Facility Maintenance at 343-8465
Report graffiti: Graffiti Busters at 343-4663 or facilitymaintenanceworkrequests@ci.anchorage.ak.us
Parks and Recreation Maintenance: 343-4554, parksrecmaintenance@muni.org
Suspicious behavior/non-emergency: 311
Emergency: 911
Eagle Scout Projects
Parks & Recreation has worked with numerous Boy and Eagle Scouts to complete volunteer projects on parkland.
We encourage scouts to visit parks and brainstorm project ideas based on what they observe as needing attention or maintenance. Past projects have included sanding and painting bollards, installing a Mutt Mitt station, repairing benches, and sanding and varnishing flower planters.
Please contact our department to discuss your project idea a year before you intend to complete it. Depending on the size and scope of the project, you may be required to go through the department’s public process to demonstrate community support for your planned improvements.
Boys Scouts of America provides a fillable pdf that scouts can use to organize and plan their project. You can download that pdf here.
If you are looking for additional sources of funding for your project, please check the Anchorage Park Foundation's website to see if Challenge Grants are being accepted.
Resources
Volunteer Agreement Form
Volunteer Hours Tracking Form
Trail Watch Hours Tracking Form
Adopt-A-Garden Leader Agreement
Adopt-A-Park Leader Agreement
Adopt-A-Trail Leader Agreement
Volunteer Improvement Proposal
Benefits of Volunteering