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Individual Volunteering

The history of the Conservancy is intrinsically linked to the recent history of volunteerism in Riverside Park. Since the 1980s, when local grassroots volunteers took on providing an added level of care for their neighborhood park, volunteers have been central to our mission and continue to make Riverside Park a place of beauty, community, and successful environmental stewardship.

Grassroots Volunteers of all ages provide their time and skill to the many landscaped gardens, lawns, and pathways throughout the Park and serve as ambassadors, sharing our mission with the public.

Check out our events calendar to learn about upcoming drop-in volunteer opportunities or continue reading to learn how to make a long-term impact!

For any questions, please contact [email protected].

How can I get involved?

PlacePartner: Work as part of a pre-existing group or with a ParkTender who tends a specific area. PlacePartners volunteer at least monthly during the growing season, either individually or as part of an area-wide volunteer day. Volunteering as a PlacePartner provides a good deal of flexibility while still offering the opportunity to make an ongoing contribution in a particular area of the park.

ParkTender: Make a long-term commitment to care regularly for an assigned area of the park. ParkTenders write a plan describing the work they are interested in doing and carry out the plan after it is approved by RPC. This is a larger commitment and requires a broad understanding of horticulture as well as NYC Parks’ policies. ParkTenders work independently and have at least two years of gardening experience.

Park User Groups: Individual volunteers can also assist with the various volunteer User Groups in the park, such as the dog runs, playgrounds, and athletic fields.  Click here to learn more.

For next steps, attend an upcoming volunteer orientation — learn more below.

🗓 Upcoming Volunteer Orientations
All of our orientations take place at the Peter Jay Sharp Volunteer House.

We currently do not have any Grassroots Volunteer Orientations scheduled. Please check back in early spring.

If you’re interested in attending a volunteer opportunity before then, please reach out to [email protected] or fill out the form below.

If you’re a new volunteer, please fill out the interest form below. Please note that we will be adding new orientation dates in early 2026.

New Volunteer Interest Form

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