Partners in Parks

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Partners in Parks is a beautification program that helps Edmontonians enhance and preserve their local green space.

Neighbourhoods have been kept green, beautiful and clean for over 15 years with the help of dedicated Edmontonians who participate in our Partners in Parks program.

Every year participants help the City of Edmonton by enhancing maintenance of shrub beds. Participating with Partners in Park is an incredible opportunity with many benefits: service to the community, learning gardening skills and keeping active in a safe manner.

If you see a Partners in Parks participant hard at work, make sure to let them know how much their effort is helping to beautify your neighbourhood!

2025 Participant Registration

The 2024 Partners in Parks registrations are now closed. Please check back here in spring for more information on the 2025 registration process. Current participants will receive an email notification.

We would like to sincerely thank all of our participants who have helped to enhance our city greenspaces and communities. This year has been truly amazing, with the Partners in Parks program expanding to over 300 participants, and adopting over 600 garden beds around Edmonton.

2025 will mark Partners in Park’s 40th anniversary, and we hope that you will join us again - or for the first time - to participate in another amazing year.

Participant Activities

Partners in Parks participants maintain horticultural planting beds. If you see a Partners in Parks participant hard at work, make sure to let them know how much their effort is helping to beautify your neighbourhood!

Partner Activities

Partners conduct work in existing City-owned shrub beds, which are typically located in parks and open spaces. Some work sites are not suitable for participants, including stormwater management facilities and in close proximity to roads. Program staff will confirm your work site as part of registration.

Required maintenance activities include:

Removing litter
Weeding shrub beds

Optional maintenance activities include:

Planting non-invasive annuals or perennials
Watering plant material
Mulching
Soil amendment

Benefits of Participating

Partners in Parks efforts boost pride in our city and bring beauty to neighbourhoods. Participating also helps to improve habitat for native plants, birds and pollinators, while also reducing the presence of invasive weeds.

Personal benefits of participating include:

Gain personal satisfaction and enjoyment
Opportunity for staying physically and mentally healthy
Develop horticulture and gardening skills
Recognition for contribution

Training & Resources

Following registration, all Partners will be asked to complete onboarding tasks.

Training includes reviewing the Partners in Parks Manual , completing two, short online quizzes and acknowledgement of Operational Health and Safety and Participant requirements.

After training, Partners will receive their bag of program resources. Personal protective equipment including gloves, safety glasses, first aid kit, participant badge and site signage are provided by Partners in Parks.

Complimentary items such as native flower seeds, garbage bags and sponsor donations may also be provided.

Partners are responsible for their own sturdy, closed-toe footwear such as runners and weather-appropriate clothing. Horticultural tools such as hand trowels and rakes are also the responsibility of the participant.

Reporting Shifts

Partners are required to report when they are working. To simplify this process, shifts can be submitted via the 2024 Shift Log.

Note, this reporting process is only for registered Partners in Parks participants.

Current Partners

Program staff are very grateful for the time and effort our participants commit to enhancing beautification in Edmonton. Monthly newsletters share kudos and highlight Partners in Parks sites. At the completion of the season, all participants are provided with a handwritten thank you letter. Individuals that contribute 10 or more hours of service also receive an annual horticultural society membership!

Testimonials

Every year Partners in Parks participants are asked to complete a short survey about their experience. Some people provide testimonials, such as the ones below, that highlight the benefits of participating.

"It's nice to have an excuse to get outside and enjoy the weather and the dirt! Also nice to see the results of your hard work throughout the season."

"I enjoyed participating in the Partners in Parks program. I enjoyed getting outside in the fresh air, and I was pleased to be able to see my local park looking better because of my efforts."

"I enjoy working in my garden which is located beside a well-used trail and enjoy talking to walkers as they go by. It's a nice way to connect with my neighbours and others passing through the community, both verbally and aesthetically."

Sponsor, Donor and Partner Opportunities

Is your organization committed to a greener future? The City has set a goal for Edmonton to be a neighbourly city with community and personal wellness that embodies and promotes equity for all Edmontonians. The key indicators for this goal are related to participation and a sense of community. Your contributions can enhance the City’s opportunities to beautify parks, support recreation and leisure for all ages and abilities, and help us achieve a more neighbourly city!

Edmonton Horticultural Society (EHS)

Edmonton Horticultural Society Logo A longstanding sponsor of the Partners in Parks program, for many years, in-kind donations of EHS memberships have supported participants in accessing workshops and training, retail discounts and meeting the community of horticulturalists in Edmonton.

For more information about memberships, special events and workshops hosted by EHS, visit the EHS website.

Become a Sponsor or Donor

Partners in Parks has many opportunities for your organization to support participation. Become a corporate sponsor of in-kind products or donate funds to support program resources. Partner with us to promote horticultural education and skill development activities or innovative community projects.

2024 Partners In Parks Sites By District

Noxious Weeds

Not all flowers are friendly. Help pursue, capture and destroy these public enemies.

Volunteer Opportunities

Share your time, skills and energy with one of the many services or programs the city offers. Your involvement makes a difference

Parkland Care

Through the use of naturalization, responsible herbicide use and mowing, the City of Edmonton promotes biodiversity in our green spaces.

Composting

Turn your food scraps and yard waste into a valuable soil enhancement.

Edmonton in Bloom Newsletter

Missing something? Sign up to receive our seasonal newsletter to stay in the loop about all things in bloom.

Contact Us

Title	Community Greening Coordinator
Email	partnersinparks@edmonton.ca

311 Contact Centre

Online	Contact 311 Online

If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Phone	311
TTY	711