Youth in Action
Eugene parks are more than green spaces. They are places where nature and community thrive together. For 25 years, the Parks and Open Space Volunteer Program has been at the heart of this vision, empowering thousands of volunteers to care for trails, restore habitats, and create spaces where everyone can connect with the outdoors. Their dedication strengthens ecosystems, builds community resilience and ensures that our parks remain vibrant and accessible. We are deeply grateful for the countless hours and unwavering commitment that make this possible. This year, we shine a spotlight on a growing force within that movement: youth in action. By engaging students, young professionals, and families, we’re not only meeting the immediate needs of our parks, but we are also planting seeds for a greener future. Youth volunteers bring energy, creativity, and fresh perspectives that inspire innovation and fosters a lifelong connection to our parks. Their involvement today ensures that tomorrow’s leaders will champion sustainability and care for the natural spaces that define our community. As you explore this report, you’ll see the impact of these efforts, from both the collective strength of all volunteers and the unique contributions of youth. Together, we are building a legacy of care, collaboration, and hope for Eugene’s parks and open spaces.
Year in Review
Community Partners & Adoption Groups
Our volunteer program is proud to partner with neighborhoods, community groups and organizations across Eugene. A greater and growing list of park adoptions and partnerships helps us get work done and build connected networks of support. We'd like to extend our thanks to all the individuals and groups that are making Eugene green spaces thrive.
Adoption Groups
- Bridgeway House
- Eugene Metro Rotary
- Eugene Mountain Bike Stewards
- Eugene Petanque International Club
- Eugene Solidarity Garden
- Friends of Amazon Park and 16th & Van Buren Ash Groves
- Friends of Antis Oaks
- Friends of Awbrey Park
- Friends of the Bog at Laurelwood
- Friends of Charnel Mulligan
- Friends of Friendly Park
- Friends of Gilbert Park
- Friends of Grasshopper Meadows
- Friends of the Hazelnut/Cottonwood Grove
- Friends of Hendricks Park
- Friends of Milton Park
- Friends of Monroe Park
- Friends of Moon Mountain
- Friends of Murray Hill
- Friends of Osprey Hollow
- Friends of Rasor Park
- Friends of Riverloop Park
- Friends of Scobert
- Friends of the Jefferson DOLA and Wayside Park
- Friends of Terra Linda
- Friends of Tugman Park
- Friends of Wendover Park
- Friends of Westmoreland Disc Golf Course
- Golden Gardens Habitat Guardians
- Heron Slough Habitat Team
- Jefferson Westside Neighbors
- Lane County Butterfly Club at Golden Gardens
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Lane County
- Mountain Rose Herbs
- Murray Hill Friends
- Nobel Peace Laureate Project
- Obsidians
- Petersen Barn Community Center
- Rotary Club of Eugene
- Sheldon Park Community Center
- Willamette Area Climbers Coalition
Partnerships
- Active Bethel Community
- Adaptive Recreation
- Allies
- AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps
- Audubon Society
- Back2Youth
- Beyond Toxics
- Bonneville Environmental Foundation
- Boy Scouts of America
- Bushnell University
- Buford Park and Mt. Pisgah Arboretum
- Coast to Cascades Bird Alliance
- Centro Latinoamericano
- Churchill Area Neighbors
- Citizen Planning Committee for the Whilamut Natural Area
- City of Eugene Recreation
- Connected Lane County
- Delta Rotary
- Disciples of Dirt
- Doak Creek Native Plant Nursery
- Eugene Chamber of Commerce
- Eugene Family YMCA
- Eugene Mission Life Change Program
- Eugene Mission R3
- Eugene Skin Divers
- Friendly Area Neighbors
- Friends of Lincoln School Park Community Garden
- Good Creative Design
- Greenway Guardians
- Herbalists without Borders
- Kalapuya High School
- Lane County
- Lane County Community College
- Lane County Master Gardeners
- Litter Mates
- Little Hands Can
- Long Tom Watershed Council
- Looking Glass Center Point School
- Master Gardeners
- Morganic Roots Ecofirm
- Nearby Nature
- Northwest Youth Corp
- OMRI
- Oregon Community Credit Union
- Oregon Department of Forestry
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- OSU Extension Service
- PAE Engineering
- Rachel Carson Environmental Science Academy
- Recreation –RESOLVE program
- River House Outdoor Center
- River Road Community Organization
- Sentinel One
- South Eugene High School Integrated Outdoor Program
- Southeast Neighbors
- Suddenly Sleepy
- Tactics Skate shop
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS)
- Trillium Gardens
- UO Duckcorps
- UO Holden Center
- UO Student Sustainability Center
- United Way of Lane County
- Walamalane
- Walama Restoration Project
- Washington Jefferson Neighbors
- Wells, Manning, Eitenmiller & Taylor (WMET) Attorneys
- Whole Foods
- Willamette Riverkeeper
- WREN
- Xerces
- And more!
Where We Work
With 70 developed parks, almost 5,000 acres of natural space and 30 miles of waterways, volunteerism plays a key role in beautifying, restoring and maintaining Eugene's diverse urban landscapes. The following section highlights detail the different areas and environments where volunteers make an impact on a regular basis.
Neighborhood Hubs in Action
Developed parks are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods. Parks are places where families gather, friends connect, and communities celebrate. These spaces, with their playgrounds, sports fields, and shaded lawns, offer more than recreation; they foster belonging and strengthen the social fabric of Eugene. Volunteers have always been essential to keeping these parks vibrant, creating healthier ecosystems and building resilience against climate challenges. Their work ensures that these cherished spaces remain welcoming and sustainable. This year, we’re proud to highlight the role of youth in action in these community hubs. From students planting garden beds to families caring for playgrounds, young volunteers are transforming parks into living classrooms and leadership incubators. Their energy and creativity breathe new life into stewardship, inspiring neighbors and shaping a greener future for all. Whether through formal park adoptions or one-time events, youth engagement amplifies the impact of every effort, which turns simple acts of care into lasting community change.
RESOLVE Partnership at Alton Baker Park
On school holidays, students join stewardship projects through RESOLVE, a City of Eugene Recreation program that helps connect youth with community service. This year, participants cared for memorial gardens, planted trees, and supported habitat restoration—making a visible impact while learning the value of environmental leadership.
McKenzie School Districts WATERS Program Hands-on Learning
Students from McKenzie School District WATERS program partnered with parks staff for a day of learning and service. Their experience began at the Parks and Open Space offices at Roosevelt Yard with an inside look at how Eugene manages stormwater to protect local waterways. Then, learning turned into action at Downtown Riverfront Park, where students planted 55 native plants in a rain garden designed to improve water quality for years to come. This hands-on project connected students with the people who care for Eugene’s rain gardens every day, showing how environmental stewardship and public service go hand in hand. We’re grateful to McKenzie High School for bringing energy and purpose to this impactful day.
No matter your age or experience, there’s a way to nurture your parks. Together, we’re building spaces that reflect the best of Eugene: connected, engaged, and full of life.
Connecting Hearts and Trails
Our natural areas, trail systems and urban forest are an invaluable resource to both wildlife and community health. Volunteer projects in these areas have included restoration work, such as clearing out ivy, blackberries and other non-native species, restoring storm damaged trails and building new ones, as well as planting native shrubs and trees to help these natural areas thrive. In addition, volunteers are helping us increase our urban tree numbers and tree canopy. Biodiversity in our natural areas increases our environment’s resilience to diseases, pests and climate change, while helping to create safe and accessible spaces for the community. We’re grateful for the continued support of partnerships involving youth, including:
- Rachel Carson Environmental Science Academy at Churchill High School
- University of Oregon Duck Corps
- City of Eugene Recreation Resolve Program
- Bushnell University Softball Team
- Twin Rivers Charter School
- Boy Scouts
- University of Oregon Student Sustainability Center
- Northwest Youth Corps
With their help, we continue to provide opportunities for youth, families and community members to become park stewards.
Twin Rivers Charter School at Skinner Butte Park
Over the course of four days, students and staff removed non-native vegetation and reduced dry vegetation in an effort to mitigate wildfire risk on the top of Skinner Butte. Skinner Butte has seen numerous fires over the past few years; and the efforts of these volunteers help reduce the risk a catastrophic event for residents living nearby and helps protect the native Oregon White Oaks and other trees that shade the Butte for year-round visitors and wildlife.
Rachel Carson Environmental Science Academy at Bertelsen Nature Park
These students participate in habitat management volunteer projects throughout the school year, gaining both hands-on experience as well as an understanding of the how and why of restoration. At the start of the 25/26 school year, students and teachers joined City staff at Bertelsen Nature Park for a tree care and maintenance project. Volunteers weeded and mulched over 60 trees that were planted in 2024, these trees will eventually provide great canopy cover and habitat in an area of the city that is deficient in tree coverage.
Bushnell Softball Team at Hendricks Park
Continuing their annual tradition of stewardship in the Hendricks Park Forest, the Bushnell University softball team brought out 25 energetic and hard-working volunteers for a day of service in September. The players, coaches, and support staff completed the first step in habitat restoration by removing invasive blackberry and releasing 8 trees that will now receive more sunlight. This area at the east end of the Forest will continue to receive restoration efforts, with the ultimate goal of re-establishing native vegetation.
Healthy Water, Healthy City
Urban waterways are essential to the vitality of cities, offering numerous environmental, economic and social benefits. They serve as natural drainage systems and help mitigate the risk of floods by channeling stormwater away from urban areas. These waterways also help improve water quality by filtering pollutants and providing habitats for various aquatic and terrestrial species, thus supporting biodiversity. Urban waterways enhance the aesthetic and recreational value of cityscapes, creating spaces for leisure activities like boating, fishing and walking along scenic riversides. They can also boost local economies by attracting tourism and investment in waterfront developments. Eugene has many waterways flowing through the city and maintaining healthy urban waterways is crucial for sustainable urban living.
Northwest Youth Corps Tree Planting and Stewardship on Amazon Creek
Northwest Youth Corps spent part of their time with Parks and Open Space planting and mulching 80 new trees and caring for 60 trees from previous years on Amazon Creek, which strengthens the riparian forest and improves the local habitat.
Community Gardens: Growing Together
Community gardens provide fresh, healthy food, promote sustainability, and create spaces where people can connect and learn. With seven partner organizations, 400 garden plots, and six garden locations across Eugene, our program thrives because of volunteers. At the center of this effort are volunteer site coordinators, who serve as educators, mentors, and stewards. They troubleshoot challenges, foster community, and coach gardeners with encouragement and expertise. Their leadership ensures that our gardens remain vibrant, inclusive spaces for learning and growth. Beyond supporting gardeners, these spaces also play a vital role in activating youth and families, turning gardens into places of creativity, education, and cultural connection. Through partnerships and events, we’re inspiring the next generation to engage with food systems and sustainability in meaningful ways.
Plaza de Nuestra Comunidad
Our partnership with Plaza de Nuestra Comunidad, a nonprofit serving Eugene’s Latin community, brought families together at Skinner City Garden for a special spring craft day. Families gathered for garden-themed activities in a space dedicated to food production and education, strengthening cultural connections and inspiring young gardeners. These kinds of events reflect how youth engagement transforms gardens into places of learning, creativity, and community pride. Partnerships with organizations like Plaza amplify this impact, creating inclusive spaces where diverse communities can come together and thrive.
Thanks to the commitment of volunteers; site coordinators, gardeners, and partners alike, we continue to grow a program rooted in collaboration and care. As we look ahead to the 2026 season, we remain dedicated to supporting these efforts and expanding opportunities for all ages to dig in and make a difference.
2025 Environmental Leadership Award
Eugene’s Native Plant Nursery program earned high praise for its sustainable approach to habitat restoration. The program engages City staff and dedicated volunteers in growing native plants and seeds used in park restoration projects across Eugene. It’s a model of community-powered environmental stewardship that supports local ecosystems and increases long-term environmental resilience.
Restoring Native Plants in Local Environments
Nestled in Alton Baker Park, the City of Eugene’s Native Plant Nursery is a vibrant hub of restoration and renewal. Each year, thousands of native plants, seeds, trees, and shrubs are cultivated that then help fuel urban habitat restoration across our community. This work is made truly possible by the passion and commitment of weekly volunteers, community groups, and interns who give their time and energy.
Beyond growing plants, the nursery cultivates connection: it offers hands-on learning, meaningful engagement, and a welcoming space where people of all ages can help strengthen the natural heritage of the Willamette Valley.
In 2025, staff welcomed the community into a rich lineup of tours, workshops, and hands‑on learning experiences that celebrated the many wonders of our local ecosystems. Each event offered people a chance to deepen their connection to the natural world and to play an active role in caring for it. If you feel inspired to visit or volunteer at the nursery, email Kelsey Irvine or join our welcoming weekly work party every Friday from 1–4 p.m.
Young Volunteers Stepping Up
In 2025, the Native Plant Nursery thrived with the support of youth volunteers from City of Eugene Recreation’s R3 Program, University of Oregon, and South Eugene High School Integrated Outdoor Program. These groups rolled up their sleeves to mulch, spread gravel, weed, and clean seed which directly contributes to the nursery’s restoration efforts. Throughout the year, six dedicated University of Oregon interns also played a vital role in production, bringing energy, skill, and consistency to the nursery’s growing operations. Together, these young leaders helped strengthen the nursery’s impact and deepen community stewardship.
Volunteer Spotlight
Becky Riley
Becky Riley’s decades‑long dedication to prairie restoration has earned her the 2025 Oregon Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA) Volunteer Service Award, a recognition that reflects both the scale of her contributions and the heart she brings to every project. Watch a video about Becky's work below. For years, Becky has been a driving force in restoring prairie ecosystems at Rasor Park—collecting seed, removing invasives, nurturing native plants, mentoring new volunteers, and showing up season after season with unwavering commitment. Her deep knowledge of prairie ecology, paired with her generosity in sharing it, has strengthened restoration efforts in the park and inspired countless others to get involved. Her work has helped transform degraded landscapes into thriving habitats, supporting pollinators, wildlife, and the long‑term health of Oregon’s natural areas. But just as importantly, Becky has built community leading by example, lifting up fellow volunteers, and proving how powerful sustained stewardship can be. This award celebrates not only her extraordinary service, but the legacy she continues to grow with every seed sown and every volunteer she encourages.
Want to get involved?
There's something for everyone!
Volunteering at a local park or natural area is a great way to get to know your community, hone your plant knowledge and support public green spaces. The Volunteer Program is proud to offer numerous weekly and reoccurring stewardship opportunities across the city. If you’re not sure where to start, send us an email or visit our web page for more information.
Weekly Volunteer Events
Every Wednesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Owen Rose Garden, Heritage Roses Every Tuesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden Every Thursday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Summer-Fall| Hendricks Park Native Plant Garden Every Thursday 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Winter-Spring| Hendricks Park Native Plant Garden Every Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Owen Rose Garden, Modern Roses Every Friday 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Native Plant Nursery Select Saturdays 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., February through June| Hendricks Park Free the Forest
Annual Volunteer Events
COME JOIN US!
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Tree Planting| January Spring for your River | April—May Bee City | May Willamette River Festival | August Great Willamette River Cleanup | October Trees for Troops | November
Meet Our Team
Our team of Volunteer Coordinators is passionate about helping community members connect with their parks and natural areas. Whether you're interested in individual stewardship, workplace volunteerism, or finding a weekly stewardship event, our team is here to lend support!
Cait Wisbeski (She/Her)
Developed Parks Engagement Coordinator Raised in Eugene, Cait joined the Volunteer Program in 2022. Her background is in community outreach, program development, conservation and adaptive recreation. As Developed Parks Engagement Coordinator, Cait works to bring community members together through stewardship projects in neighborhood, community and metropolitan parks across Eugene. She also administers the Community Gardens program at Eugene’s five garden locations. Cait is passionate about sharing her love of urban green spaces with volunteers. When she’s not digging in her own gardens, she enjoys camping, bicycling and fly fishing.
Becca Daugherty (She/Her)
Community Gardens Program Assistant Originally from Santa Rosa, California, Becca and her cat Peanut moved up to Eugene to so she could pursue a degree in Environmental Science at the University of Oregon. With over 10 years of gardening experience, she began working as a Community Garden Site Coordinator for three years at the University of Oregon's Grove Garden where she and her dedicated group of volunteers grew food for their community. She has also been an active volunteer at the Friends of Buford Park Native Nursery where she has assisted in research projects, day-to-day operations and leading volunteers. Becca has a passion for teaching, especially subjects revolving soil health, planting methods and lichens! Upon graduating with her degree in June 2024, she is excited to enter the position of Community Garden Program Assistant. In her downtime, she enjoys baking, gardening, painting, and learning the piano.
Joe Waksmundski (He/Him)
Natural Area and Tree Volunteer Coordinator Joe was born and raised in northern Ohio, near Lake Erie, where he found his love for the outdoors. Before joining the City of Eugene in 2017 as a Park Ambassador, Joe spent nearly 20 years in the conservation corps field working in the Southwest and Northwest. He led crews of youth, young adults and volunteers on restoration and maintenance projects on both public and private land. Joe remains enthused about his role as the Natural Areas and Trees Volunteer Coordinator because it allows him to work with dedicated members of the community on natural resource projects while also exploring new places in Eugene. In his free time, he enjoys whitewater rafting, gardening and crafting homemade hot sauces.
Kelsey Irvine (She/Her)
Native Plant and Waterways Volunteer Coordinator A Minnesota native, Kelsey Irvine began her journey with the City of Eugene in 2014 as a seasonal employee supporting the Native Plant Nursery. She joined the team full‑time in 2017 and now manages the nursery while coordinating volunteer efforts along local waterways. Her work is deeply fulfilling, bringing together her love of plants, her commitment to ecological restoration, and her dedication to improving habitat and water quality in the community she calls home. Kelsey’s background includes degrees in art and restoration ecology, complemented by a variety of professional experiences that shape her approach to community and restoration work. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, camping, seeing and making music, spending time with friends, and celebrating the joy of having family close by in Eugene.
Katie Boyles (She/They)
Native Plant Nursery Assistant Katie serves as the Program Assistant for the Native Plant Nursery and Native Plant Garden, supporting urban restoration efforts and helping showcase the region’s diverse native species. She assists in all aspects of production and operations, in leading weekly volunteer work parties and mentor's interns who contribute to nursery operations. Her background spans sustainable, native‑plant‑focused gardening and landscape design, local floral agriculture, and natural areas restoration in both California and Oregon. Katie holds a BFA from San Francisco State University. Outside of work, she can be found hiking our great state or creating art in collaboration with the community.