The Prince William County Department of Parks and Recreation is encouraging residents, organizations, and businesses to participate in its Adopt-a-Park program. Established in 2019, the initiative aims to foster partnerships between community members and the department by involving volunteers in maintaining and improving local parks, open spaces, and trails.
Janet LaFleur, Recreation Senior Manager at Prince William County Parks and Recreation, developed and manages the program. She said, “With 5000+ acres of premier park land and 50+ miles of trails, it’ often challenging to keep up with the tremendous use of Prince William County Parks’ open spaces. Having a strong group of volunteer park stewards to support the park system in Prince William County really makes a difference in achieving the high standards we have for these important areas in our community.”
Volunteers who join Adopt-a-Park help with tasks such as litter removal, controlling weeds, planting trees and plants, mulching, identifying hazards, and general beautification efforts. The program also serves to educate county residents about the significance of parks and natural spaces.
“We’re always looking for businesses, organizations, families—really anyone who wants to adopt one of our parks, trails or outdoor spaces,” LaFleur added.
Students can use their volunteer time toward required community service hours. Local businesses that participate receive public recognition for their environmental stewardship.
Preston Williams volunteers for Adopt-a-Park with his family. He said, “You can’t find a more convenient way to volunteer. You don’t have to do it on a certain date at a certain time. You clean your park about once a month (more if you like, of course) but when it best suits your schedule.” He continued: “It’s also an outside family activity that doesn’t require much equipment, just trash bags (supplied by the park system), grabbers and daylight.”
Williams added another benefit: “Maybe the best perk of all is when you’ve completed the tasks, you’re at a park!”
Those interested in volunteering or learning more about the program can find additional information through the department’s website.
