Please Note: All volunteers with the city must complete a liability waiver and a parent's or guardian's signature is required for volunteers under 18.
City staff welcome volunteers to make a difference in our parks by removing litter, installing native trees and plants, restoring habitat areas, and protecting our waterways
We strongly encourage groups to consider volunteering in the capacities listed on this page before requesting additional opportunities. Group sizes under 10 and individuals are recommended to sign up for publicly hosted events on the City Calendar.
If you'd like to request a private volunteer event or ongoing individual opportunity, please contact us with your project ideas to get connected with the appropriate staff. Before you reach out, be sure to check our non-eligible projects list(PDF, 19KB).
Click here to view form.
Year-round, the city will provide volunteers with supplies (trash bags, pickers, safety wear) and designated locations that need a helping hand. To request supplies, please complete our Volunteer Opportunity Request Form.
Adopt-A-Spot
Picking up litter is a small effort that makes a big impact on the local environment. The city's Adopt-A-Spot program(PDF, 659KB) gives groups and individuals the opportunity to adopt a park, a portion of a park, or a trail to clean up a few times a year.
To adopt a location, please complete our Volunteer Opportunity Request Form.
Adopt-a-Spot Locations
- Ashby Pond Conservatory — open for adoption
- Autumn Woods Open Space — open for adoption
- Belle's Bird Sanctuary Park and/or Barthol Garden — open for adoption
- Cobbdale Park — Adopted by the Cobbdale Civic Association
- Country Hill Commons — Adopted by the Country Hill Commons Civic Association
- Dale Lestina Park — Adopted by City of Fairfax Democratic Committee
- Daniels Run Park — open for adoption
- Draper Drive Park — open for adoption
- Fairchester Woods Park — Adopted by The Earth Club
- Kenmore Drive Park — open for adoption
- Kutner Park portion 1 — Adopted by Stacy Hall and Rachel McQuillen
- Kutner Park portion 2 — open for adoption
- University Park — Adopted by Lucy Loves
- Kitty Pozer Historic Garden — open for adoption
- Old Town Square — Adopted by Old Town Fairfax Business Association
- Pat Rodio Park — Adopted by Historic Fairfax Neighborhood Association
- Providence Park Part A — Pavilion/Tennis Court Side — open for adoption
- Providence Park Part B — Soccer Field/Cross Country Trail Side — open for adoption
- Ranger Road Park — open for adoption
- Ratcliffe Park — Adopted by Friends of Ratcliffe Park
- Rebel Run — open for adoption
- Sager Trail — Adopted by Mackenzie's Tunes and Tonics
- School Street Park — Adopted by the Women's Club of Fairfax
- Shiloh Street Natural Area — open for adoption
- Shiloh Street Park — Adopted by Clean Fairfax
- Stafford Park — open for adoption
- Stafford Park West — open for adoption
- Ted Grefe Park — Adopted by Girl Scout Troop 55006
- Thaiss Memorial Park — open for adoption
- Van Dyck Park portion 1 — Adopted by BSA Troops 1887 & 1888
- Van Dyck Park portion 2 — open for adoption
- Van Dyck Park (University Blvd) — open for adoption
- Westmore Park — open for adoption
- Westmore School Site & Dog Park — open for adoption
- Wilcoxon Park — open for adoption
- Willow Wood Open Space — open for adoption
Community Cleanups
Each fall and spring, the City of Fairfax organizes a citywide litter cleanup event where volunteers come together to reduce pollution across the city's parks, trails, and neighborhoods. To check for upcoming community cleanup events and to register, visit the Community Cleanup Programs webpage.
Add beauty to our park spaces by caring for trees, gardens, and pollinator meadows. Volunteer tasks may include weeding, mulching, watering, staking or fencing trees, installing plugs, planting trees, and more. During the fall and spring (Mar. 15 - May 31, Sept. 15 - Nov. 30), the city also hosts various tree planting events open to the public and posted on the City Calendar.
To request an opportunity, please fill out our Volunteer Opportunity Request Form.
Invasive plants are species intentionally or accidentally introduced into our parks that can cause harm to local plants and wildlife. The city's Forest Rescues program helps restore local habitats through a community-based approach to invasive plant management.
Volunteers can get involved in our training program, join an upcoming workday on the City Calendar, or schedule a group volunteer opportunity through our Volunteer Opportunity Request Form.
Storm drains bring runoff into our local waterways, which flow to the Chesapeake Bay. Storm drain marking is a great way to help raise awareness about the impacts of pollution on our watershed.
Volunteers can help keep our water clean by placing storm drain markers on storm drains throughout the city. Interested groups and individuals should fill out our Volunteer Opportunity Request Form.
Stormwater Utility Credit Program
By participating in a city-sponsored tree planting, invasive plant removal in a Resource Protection Area (RPA), or cleanup event, city property owners may be eligible for stormwater utility (SWU) credit through the city's Trees, Litter, and Creeks (TLC) Community Stewardship Program.
Credit may also be earned by hosting your own event or attending a nonprofit partner event. Visit the Stormwater Utility Credit Program webpage for more information on what counts and how to apply.
Community Service Hours
For volunteers with community service hour requirements, please bring your form to your volunteer opportunity. FCPS students can submit an x2VOL request to staff after completing service hours.