HELP OUT: Registration now open for citywide
public park clean-up initiative,
inviting volunteers to participate in second season
Here at ChiIL Mama, we adore our Chi, IL park district and we're all about helping out. We've done past park cleanups and as a family we believe teaching children to give back to their communities is key. Want to join in? CPF needs volunteers from now through October. Volunteering is good for the heart and soul and helping to keep the city’s 600+ public parks clean is good for the environment too. Hope to see you out there!
The nonprofit Chicago Parks Foundation (CPF) announces the second season of its citywide volunteer effort “Pitch In for the Parks!” to help keep the city’s 600+ public parks clean. This season-long, family-friendly volunteer opportunity is now open for registration on an ongoing enrollment basis, with park clean-ups starting June 1 and lasting through October. Volunteers can sign up at chicagoparksfoundation.org/volunteer, which includes an interactive map and a list of Chicago parks.
Last year’s inaugural “Pitch In for the Parks!” initiative brought in 2,000 volunteers for 350 park clean-ups. This year, over 90 volunteer groups have signed up for the season—many of which are participating in reoccurring sessions—adding up to a total of 300+ clean-up events citywide. CPF expects this count to keep growing as the Park Advisory Councils, local businesses and community organizations continue to step up and adopt parks this month and beyond.
“Pitch In for the Parks!” is open to anyone who wants to host a clean-up group or join an existing event from the interactive map on the CPF website. Community groups, corporate teams and individual volunteers are invited to participate in adopting a park with others in their community. In partnership with the Chicago Park District and communities across the city, CPF is providing trash pick-up supplies, volunteer coordination and safety guidelines to support the parks’ ongoing maintenance from June through October.
"Parks improve our quality of life. The Chicago Parks Foundation's goal is to encourage park lovers and users to become park givers and stewards," said Willa Iglitzen Lang, CPF Executive Director. "The Chicago parks are enjoyed by so many and, this past year especially, we have experienced the value and impact the parks have on our lives. ‘Pitch In for the Parks!’ connects everyday park goers with the supplies and support they need to step up, pitch in, and make a visible difference!"
Volunteers who participated in last year’s clean-ups saw the impact Chicago parks had on residents and the visible difference made by this initiative. A 2020 “Pitch In for the Parks!” volunteer shared, “As a resident of Chicago, I want to enjoy the parks and to help others enjoy them. Cleaning up is a great way to lead by example and make the parks feel safe and enjoyable." Another volunteer said, "I pitched in for the parks to give back to the parks some of what they gave me: peace, safety, and mental and physical health. Cleaning the parks just felt like a good way to return the favor.”
“Pitch In for the Parks!” is supported in part by Bank of America, Boxed Water, Chicago Association of REALTORS®, and Chicago Bears.
About the Chicago Parks Foundation
The Chicago Parks Foundation (CPF) launched in 2013 as the nonprofit partner of the Chicago parks. As an independent 501(c)3 organization, CPF brings community ideas to action, raising funds and awareness for park projects all across our city and serving as a fiscal partner to 70+ local Park Advisory Councils. Learn more at www.chicagoparksfoundation.org.
