Needs From: United Way's Volunteer Center

Over the last several years, DuPont Park has become a shell of the park it once was. Dead ash trees from beetle infestations, pavilions set ablaze, and park amenities fallen to the wayside. 

The good news is, Parks and Outdoors has received a grant from Norfolk Southern to restore this park for the community! Over the last several months, our staff has worked to bring new life to this area. We are almost ready to re-open it to the public, but we need your help adding the finishing touches!

Activities for the day include:

+ Adding lines to a pickleball practice court

+ Adding new hopscotch areas for kids to enjoy

+ Painting the pavilion

+ Constructing a hammock pavilion that doubles as a climbing structure

+ Cutting back overgrown vegetation

This is a huge project, and we need all the help we can get! Please join us for a day of community, fun, and rewarding work. PLUS, we are providing lunch for all of our awesome volunteers*. 

Volunteers are asked to wear closed-toed shoes and to bring a reusable water bottle. Parking will be along the gravel area at the Park, and overflow parking will be along the road running beside the park.

Thank you for considering this opportunity, we hope to see you there!

*If you have any dietary restrictions, please email aadderholt@chattanooga.gov and we will do our very best to accommodate. 

The yearly Weed Wrangle is upon us!

Weed Wrangle is a one-day volunteer effort that rescues our public parks and green spaces from non-native invasive species through the hands-on removal of harmful trees, vines, and flowering plants. Beyond our local efforts here in Chattanooga, volunteers across the state (and nation!) will gather together to make a difference one weed at a time.

Supervised by an expert in invasive weed management, Weed Wrangle volunteers learn, practice and begin a habit of maintaining an area free of non-native invasive plants and encourage replanting with natives in removal areas. By engaging our neighbors and challenging them to take action in their own spaces, we hope to create a movement that will have the greatest impact on the invasive plant population.

This year, volunteers will be gripping, ripping, chopping, and lopping away at weeds around the Greenway Farm dog park. We need your help, as invasive plant species are doing what they do best- invading our parks and siphoning resources form native flora and fauna.

The nitty-gritty details:

Help us prepare our planters for spring! Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors is searching for volunteers who are ready to get their hands dirty in exchange for the gratification of knowing you made our city a little more beautiful. 

Volunteers will support staff in planting 50 planters with annuals along Broad Street, in the center median between W 3rd and W Aquarium Way.

Tools, gloves and instruction will be provided! This is a great opportunity to get the whole family together to make a visible impact.

For this Spring Day of Caring, Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors is partnering with the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) to show a little love to Stringer's Ridge. We plan on cutting back overgrowth to improve sightlines on the hiking/biking trails, picking up litter, restoring trail features through landscaping, and more. 

Parking: Please use the Spears Avenue Trailhead located at 1312 Spears Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37405. Carpooling is strongly encouraged, as parking is limited.

Physical Requirements: Volunteers must be able to lift 25 lbs independently and be fully ambulatory. Volunteers will need to be able to help haul equipment up from the trailhead to the project site using wheelbarrows/carts/etc...

Attire: Please wear closed-toed shoes, pants, and a breathable shirt. Volunteers without closed-toes shoes will not be able to participate. Please bring sunscreen if necessary. 

Equipment: All equipment for this project will be provided. 

Food/Drink: We will provide snacks and water for participants. We encourage all Volunteers to bring a personal reusable water bottle.

If you're a nature-lover with a heart for your community and you don't mind getting your hands dirty, we encourage you to join us! More details to be announced soon!

Every year, our Spring Festival brings life, laughter, and families from all over the area to the South Chattanooga Community Center. It is a day our local kids look forward to for months—but to make the magic happen, we need you.

We are currently looking for volunteers for May 7th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Whether you have the full three hours to give or can only drop by for the second half of the event, your time makes a massive difference. Once you sign up, we will be in touch to see what position and shift interests you!

Shift 1: 3 pm - 4:30 pm

Shift 2: 4:30 - 6 pm

Concessions & Food Service
Machine Operator (Adults Only): Responsible for operating the popcorn and cotton candy machines. Requires following safety guidelines and managing high heat equipment.

Concessions Assistant: Works alongside an adult to hand out light "grab-and-go" food items to families. Keeps the serving stations stocked and ensures napkins and condiments are available for guests.

Fun & Games Crew
Bounce House Monitor: Ensures the safety of children entering and exiting the bounce house. Manages the timer to make sure everyone gets a turn and monitors the number of jumpers at one time.

Game & Craft Station Leader: Manages various carnival-style games or craft tables. Explains the rules to children, distributes craft supplies, and cheers on the participants!

Bike Riding Assistant: Helps coordinate the bike riding area, ensuring participants have helmets and stay within the designated riding boundaries.

Event Support & Logistics
Floater: A flexible role for those who may arrive later in the window. Floaters fill in for breaks, help manage lines, and step in wherever the crowd is largest.

"Final Stretch" Clean-up Crew: While all volunteers help tidy their areas, this crew focuses on the 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM window to break down tables, stack chairs, and ensure the community center is left in great shape.

Park Stewards are vital community members dedicated to enhancing the environmental health, safety, and beauty of Chattanooga’s diverse park system. This includes our neighborhood parks, playgrounds, greenways, trails, and natural areas. By adopting a specific location, stewards provide consistent care, serve as helpful eyes and ears on the ground, and help foster a culture of appreciation and responsible use for our shared outdoor spaces.

Responsibilities: Park Stewards work collaboratively with Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors staff and engage in a range of hands-on activities and observational duties tailored to their assigned site and chosen focus area.

Core responsibilities include:
- Performing light maintenance tasks such as picking up litter and debris, clearing hard surfaces, cleaning park furniture and signs, removing weeds, and trimming overgrown vegetation.
- Assisting with basic horticultural and conservation efforts, including caring for trees/plants, and supporting habitat restoration initiatives.
- Monitoring the condition of park amenities, trails, and natural features, and reporting maintenance needs, damage, or hazardous conditions promptly.
- Serving as a welcoming and approachable representative of Chattanooga Parks, providing general information to visitors and encouraging adherence to park rules and responsible use.
- Observing and reporting unusual or suspicious activity to appropriate staff or authorities.


Focus Areas: While serving as a Park Steward, you will have the opportunity to specialize and concentrate your efforts within one of the following focus areas, aligning your volunteer work with your interests and the specific needs of your adopted site:
- General Park Care: Primarily focused on the upkeep and visitor experience within developed parks, playgrounds, and recreation center grounds.
- Trail & Greenway Care: Primarily focused on the maintenance and accessibility of designated trails and greenways.
- Ecological Stewardship: Primarily focused on conservation activities, habitat support, and care of natural areas, rain gardens, or other environmental assets within the park system.
- Signature Park Ambassador: Signature Park Ambassadors are volunteers who serve as welcoming and knowledgeable representatives of Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors at designated, high-traffic "signature" park locations (Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park, Montague Park/Sculpture Fields, Miller Park, Ross's Landing, Greenway Farm, TN Riverpark, & Warner Park). They act as a friendly human information resource, dedicated to enhancing the visitor experience by providing helpful information about the park, the Department, and Chattanooga as a whole.

Commitment: Park Stewards commit to adopting a specific park site or trail/area section and visiting their assigned location a minimum of two times per month for one year.

Requirements: To serve as a Park Steward, volunteers must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old, or 15 years old if accompanied by a supervising adult.
- Successfully pass a background check.
- Possess the ability to work independently while following direction from Parks staff.
- Be comfortable interacting professionally and courteously with the public, other volunteers, and park staff.
- Demonstrate commitment to the mission and goals of Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors.
- Be willing to work outdoors in various weather conditions and on natural terrain.
- Provide their own transportation to and from their volunteer site.
- Wear appropriate outdoor clothing and required closed-toe shoes while volunteering.
- Attend program orientation and any specific training relevant to their chosen focus area and assigned tasks.
- Adhere to all park rules, regulations, and volunteer policies.

Support: Park Stewards are supported by the Parks Maintenance staff and receive guidance and coordination from the Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator, who serves as the primary point of contact for volunteers.

Impact: By consistently dedicating their time and effort within their chosen focus area, Park Stewards are fundamental partners in ensuring that Chattanooga's parks, trails, greenways, and natural areas remain beautiful, safe, and accessible for the enjoyment of all residents and visitors, now and for future generations.

Application/On-boarding 

To become a Park Steward, please submit an application here. Volunteers will be asked to complete a background check and attend an orientation session. 

Looking for a meaningful way to give back to the Chattanooga community and build team camaraderie? Your corporate or civic group can make a real difference by partnering with Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors on a community project!

We always have projects available and can accommodate groups of nearly any size, from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 50 volunteers. Larger groups are accepted on a case-by-case basis. We offer a variety of hands-on opportunities tailored to different interests and skill levels. Common tasks include painting, litter removal, invasive plant removal, spreading mulch, planting trees, and more. Whether your team is passionate about environmental conservation, or enhancing public spaces, we have a project that will align with your group's interests and values.

Why participate?

Team Building: Strengthen bonds and boost morale as you work together towards a common goal in the beautiful outdoors.

Community Impact: Contribute directly to initiatives that improve the lives of our neighbors and the well-being of Chattanooga's parks and natural areas.

Brand Visibility: Showcase your organization's commitment to corporate social responsibility right here in your community.

Customized Experience: We'll work with you to find a project that fits your group's availability, size, and preferences.

Ready to make a difference?

Register your corporate or civic group today and embark on a rewarding volunteer experience that benefits everyone! After you register, our volunteer coordinator will reach out with more details to help you find the perfect project to engage your team and create lasting positive change in Chattanooga.

Adopt-a-Park is a new initiative from the City of Chattanooga Department of Parks and Outdoors designed to foster community partnerships that enhance our parks and greenways. This program offers corporate and civic groups a unique opportunity to directly impact the environmental and aesthetic quality of Chattanooga's outdoor spaces.

Through Adopt-a-Park, businesses and community organizations can play an active and vital role in improving our city's park system, ensuring these cherished areas remain beautiful and healthy for everyone to enjoy.

If you're interested and would like to learn more, please sign up for this opportunity and our Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch.