People look to parks for volunteer opportunities
Ashburn, Va. (Oct. 31, 2019) — Four in five adults (80%) look to their local parks and recreation for family-friendly, community volunteer opportunities, according to a newly released National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) poll. Millennials lead the way in terms of their volunteerism (87%), compared to Gen Xers (81%) and baby boomers (76%).
The top three volunteer activities include:
- Picking up litter in parks and along trails
- Planting trees in parks and along trails
- Raking fall leaves for composting
“Park and recreation agencies are a great place to volunteer and give back to the community,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA vice president of professional development, research and technology. “Volunteering at your local park is a win-win occasion. Not only are you giving your parks a much needed hand, you are able to reap the many benefits of parks, including a connection to nature and physical activity.”
NRPA manages two initiatives related to volunteering and donating to parks in an effort to build greater communities. Parks Build Community is a national initiative that demonstrates the transformative value of parks on the health and vitality of communities across America. NRPA conducts a complete park makeover in partnership with park equipment manufacturers and community organizations within the city hosting the NRPA Annual Conference. The Heart Your Park Day of Service is NRPA’s corporate volunteering program that supports companies making a difference in parks and green spaces by providing hands on service projects in their local communities.
This poll is part of NRPA’s Park Pulse, a continuing series of monthly surveys that gauge the public’s opinion on topics relating to parks and recreation. To explore previous Park Pulse survey results, visit www.nrpa.org/park-pulse.
To view the interactive charts with the survey results, click here.
To view the full-size infographic, click here.
To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.
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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.