Volunteer in the Parks
Turn your passion for parks into action!
Spanning 1,100 acres, the Emerald Necklace relies on dedicated volunteers to help realize Olmsted’s vision of a thriving, accessible, and beautiful urban park system. And it’s working—thanks to volunteers like you, we made a meaningful impact in 2025!
Long before “green infrastructure” was even a concept, Boston was leading the way. Designed in the late 19th century by Frederick Law Olmsted, the Emerald Necklace is one of the nation’s earliest and most visionary examples of climate-resilient design—using stone, earth, and plants to absorb stormwater, filter pollutants, and cool the city naturally. Today, cities across the globe are scrambling to replicate what Boston built nearly 150 years ago.
Volunteer with the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and be part of a legacy that continues to shape the future of our parks. Side by side with our dedicated staff, volunteers help care for these historic parks by restoring habitats, tending trails, and keeping these green spaces welcoming for all. This shared effort makes an incredible difference: without volunteer support, it would be harder to preserve the beauty and health of the Emerald Necklace for future generations.
In 2025, we hosted more than 60 volunteer events, with incredible results:
- 1,207 volunteers contributed 2,504 hours of service.
- Removed 806 bags—an estimated 16,120 pounds—of trash and invasive plant material from our parks.
Your time and effort truly make a difference—join us in keeping the Emerald Necklace vibrant and healthy for all!
Join the Conservancy email list to receive invitations to programs, clean-ups, and planting projects.
Muddy River Cleanup
April 25, 2026 | 10:00AM – 12:00PM
The Muddy River Cleanup is part of the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup, one of the largest Earth Day volunteer events in the nation, bringing together thousands of volunteers across the entire Charles River watershed. Each year, participants help remove litter and debris, beautify parks and riverbanks, and restore habitat for local wildlife.
By joining the Muddy River Cleanup, you’ll be part of a regional effort that not only improves our shared green spaces, but also builds community and inspires environmental stewardship.
Be part of the 2026 Muddy River Cleanup and register today!
“Day in the Dirt” Group Volunteer Events
Available Throughout the Emerald Necklace
Team Up for a Greener Boston!
Looking for a fun, meaningful way to make a difference with your team or group? Come get your hands dirty (in the best way) with the Emerald Necklace Conservancy! Join our staff for hands-on volunteer projects that help restore and protect Boston’s iconic Emerald Necklace parks. From litter cleanups and invasive plant removal to tree plantings and other ecological restoration efforts, your group will play a direct role in keeping this 1,100-acre urban treasure thriving.
We provide all the training, tools, and supplies—you just bring the energy and teamwork.
Perfect for corporate teams, student groups, clubs, families, or nonprofits—and no donation is required for social groups or small nonprofit organizations.
We are currently updating our corporate group rates for the coming year. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team if you have any questions in the meantime.
Sign up today and help us grow a greener future for Boston! To learn more about our “Day in the Dirt” volunteer program, contact volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org.
Second Saturdays
On the Second Saturday of each month, join Emerald Necklace Conservancy staff and volunteer leaders in supporting the care and restoration of Boston’s iconic park system! Volunteers assist with a variety of hands-on tasks, including litter cleanups, invasive plant removal, plantings, and other ecological restoration efforts. Projects take place year-round at locations throughout the Emerald Necklace.
2026 Second Saturdays
- Saturday, 4/11 @ Jamaica Pond | Register
Additional events will be shared in the coming weeks.
Tuesdays with Roses
Kelleher Rose Garden, Back Bay Fens
June – September | Tuesday evenings, 5:30PM – 7:30 PM
Volunteers work in the Kelleher Rose Garden deadheading and pruning roses and weeding the rose beds and borders. Training and tools are provided.
Tuesdays with Roses has concluded for the 2025 season. We’ll see you next summer!
What to wear: Closed-toe shoes (required), long pants and tall socks, hat, all-weather clothing
What to bring: Snack, sunscreen, and a water bottle
What is provided: All necessary tools, gloves, and instructions
What to expect: Emerald Necklace Conservancy volunteer events are typically 2-3 hours long and involve some type of park maintenance or restoration work such as planting trees or wildflowers, removing trash, controlling erosion, maintaining trails, or managing invasive plants. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about safety and technique, provide you with tools and materials, and help you make a difference in our amazing parks. Expect to have fun, meet people who love the outdoors, and get dirty!
What about the weather? Projects are rain or shine, but we will cancel in the event of extreme weather.
Questions? Contact us at volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org for more information.
DIY Clean-Up Kits
Can’t join us for one of our volunteer events in the parks? The Conservancy’s DIY Trash Clean-up Kit lets you keep the Emerald Necklace trash-free on your own time!
Each single-use kit includes everything you need to do clean up in the parks: gloves, trash bags, an Emerald Necklace map, and instructions on how to track and send us how much trash you collect.
Kits are available for pickup at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy Shattuck Visitor Center in the Back Bay Fens, Monday through Friday, between 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM or by request at the James Michael Curley House in Jamaica Plain.
