Every year, locals have the chance to show some devotion to Philly’s green spaces with the annual Love Your Park Week.
In the spring of 2025, the 9-day event will feature various cleanup opportunities from over 100 park volunteer groups, plus some family-friendly outdoor events spanning bird watching, yoga, and more.
“Parks are a cornerstone of daily life in Philadelphia,” says Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson.
“They’re where we connect with nature, stay active, find peace, and share joyful moments with one another. Love Your Park is a celebration of the love we have for our parks and our communities—a chance to give back to the places that give us so much. We couldn’t do this without the support of our Park Friends Groups, whose care, dedication, and teamwork make this event possible and keep our parks filled with love all year long.”
Those who choose to suit up for this year’s Love Your Park Week will get down and dirty planting flowers, tending trees, and removing any litter to gear up for the busy summer seasons. Tools and gloves will be provided with support from Keep PA Beautiful, and any age group is welcome to join in by registering online.
Love Your Park Week is organized by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Fairmount Park Conservancy, and the Park Friends Network. The latter, founded in 1993, is made up of 140 community-run groups that work together on year-round activations. This Week specifically is meant to provide opportunities for Philadelphians of all ages and backgrounds to make a meaningful difference in their communities.
This spring’s signature Love Your Park Week volunteer event will take place at Carroll Park in West Philadelphia on Saturday, May 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. As a release notes, volunteers will plant trees and remove litter, and the event will also feature a DJ, free food for volunteers, activities for kids, and a speaking program featuring City and Conservancy officials as well as community partners.
Other opportunities happening throughout the week include a clean-up at Fairview Park (May 10, 9 a.m. to noon), Suffolk Park (May 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Powers Park (May 13, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.), Barkan Park (May 17, 2 to 4 p.m.), Wister Woods (May 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and plenty more (a full schedule with sign-up instructions is available on Park Week’s official site.)
Highlighted events to keep an eye out for include Horticulture Volunteer Day at Bartram’s Garden (May 10, 9:30 a.m. to noon), Yoga in the Park (May 11, 10 to 11 a.m.), an Intro to Birding Workshop (May 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Therapeutic Horticulture (May 17, 3 to 5 p.m.), a TreePhilly Yard Tree Giveaway at Pleasant Hill Park (May 18, 9 to 11 a.m.), and Family Yoga with Little Yoga Squad (May 18, 11 to 11:45 a.m.) Sign-ups to these free or low-cost events can also be found online.
“More than ever, city parks need local champions,” says Tim Clair, Interim CEO for Fairmount Park Conservancy.
“Park Friends groups and Love Your Park volunteers play an essential role in keeping our parks healthy, beautiful, and accessible to everyone. Our park volunteers are a shining example of Philadelphia’s civic spirit and shared commitment to high quality public spaces. Love Your Park week is an easy and fun way to get involved, meet your neighbors, engage with your local Park Friends group, and show your appreciation for public parks.”
For the latest information on Love Your Park Week and other Park Friends events, visit loveyourpark.org
