Needs From: Volunteer Houston

Join us at Woodland Park and Freed Art and Nature Park for the Trash Bash 2026! Friends of Woodland Park is participating in the largest single-day waterway clean-up event in Texas. It is held at locations throughout Houston each spring in continuation of the Galveston Bay Foundation's mission to clean up and promote healthy waterways that lead to Galveston Bay.

Woodland Park, located at 212 Parkview Street, is one of the City's oldest public parks and an officially designated nature preserve.

We'll provide trash bags, gloves, trash grabbers, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks and water. 

We urge you to wear long pants, closed toed shoes and a hat. 

Want to get outdoors and lead people? Friends of Woodland Park (FWP) is looking for 4-6 people to manage logistics and materials for park work days. Volunteers annually remove 10-15,000 pounds of trash from the Little White Oak Bayou floodplain within Woodland Park.

FWP usually sponsors 7 community work days annually (Jan, Feb, Mar, April, Sept, Oct, Nov) plus Earth Day (corporate weekday event, April).  Scout projects may also require support. 

Friends of Woodland Park is an all volunteer organization and this is a volunteer opportunity. 

Expectations:

Cleanups are generally held on Saturday mornings, with occasional weekday cleanups for corporate groups. 

With help from the Green Team Leads and FWP board, team members will identify supplies and tools needed using provided checklists. Supplies generally include FWP Flags, canopy, info kit, table cloth, gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags, water coolers and cups, snacks, first aid kit, bug spray and hand sanitizer. Tools such as shovels and wheel barrows are borrowed from and returned to Houston Tool Bank. 

Team members will gather equipment from storage located at 2515 Washington Avenue and any other supplies (such as snacks) and ensure that committee members can receive them on clean-up day or prior.  

Set up the supply distribution area and check-in table at Woodland Park Community Center located at 212 Parkview St. 

Check-in volunteer participants (participants will register on volunteerhouston.org where they will agree to a liability waiver). Provide Park history overview and safety/procedure briefing to participants.

Register here to sign a waiver for unscheduled events at Woodland Park. 

To find scheduled clean ups and workdays or other specific volunteer opportunities at Woodland Park, please visit our Agency Page at Volunteer Houston and scroll down to the Needs section.

We look forward to seeing you in the park soon!

Friends of Woodland Park (FWP) is looking for 1-4 people to help us secure funding to support our 15 for 15 projects celebrating our15-year anniversary!  This an exciting way to make a generational impact on a unique park and bayou environment in central Houston.

1-2 people will serve as Grants Directors(s) and will liaise with the board more regularly. Directors must be members of Friends of Woodland Park, per our bylaws.

Expectations include: 

Identify grant opportunities with help of FWP board members.

Review selected grant opportunities with relevant Houston Parks and Recreation Department personnel for support or permission (ie, affidavit) to apply.

Prepare grant applications: includes writing responses to questions, assembling
responsive documents with help of board members, securing application fees if needed,
seeking final review from board members and submitting completed application.

Commitment: Minimum 1 year

For more information, contact Jennifer Ostlind, FWP Volunteer Coordinator, at jennifer@friendsofwoodlandpark.org 

The Friends of Woodland Park (FWP) is seeking a Garden Director as a non-voting member of
FWP with responsibility for the garden areas surrounding the community center, Firefly Field
garden, the entrances to Woodland Park and other possible areas in the future. The Garden
Director will liaise with one or more FWP Board members. Attendance at FWP board meetings
is not required unless requested by the board. A commitment of 12 months is preferred.

Expectations Include:
Maintain all current beds which may include adding more plants as needed.
Oversee design of future beds.
Work with volunteer coordinator to solicit volunteers and organize seasonal workdays for garden maintenance.
Coordinate with Girl Scout and Boy Scout troop leaders if they ask to volunteer for required
required service hours.
Suggest to the board new ways to enhance the attractiveness of the park using plants.
Consider the creation of educational activities for children focused on gardening.
Follow Houston Parks and Recreation Department guidelines for garden maintenance and hosting events.

Commitment: 1 year minimum is preferred

For more information contact Jennifer Ostlind, Friends of Woodland Park Volunteer
Coordinator, at Jennifer@friendsofwoodlandpark.org.