Most IMPD projects run from 9 AM - Noon, but this is flexible and can be changed based on the number of volunteers and project needs. The project leader should arrive early to unload tools and set out t-shirts, snacks, etc. Allow for a 20-minute introductory talk to review the project, assign tasks, go over tool safety, water, first aid, restrooms and have any unregistered volunteers get registered in GivePulse. 

Please also allow 20 minutes at the end of the project to thank volunteers, collect, clean and reload tools, gloves, water jugs, and do a general site cleanup. If possible, take a group photo and please thank your volunteers for their hard work!

The main It's My Park Day listing is posted on our website and GivePulse page, but promotion of your individual project is up to you. See the Quick Links section above for a Social Kit to help promote your project! 

APF promotes volunteer registration for the whole event through our monthly newsletter, blog and social media outlets as well as through print advertising in local publications and over-the-street banners in select locations throughout the city.

GivePulse allows project leaders to create an account and login to manage their approved projects. Once your project has been approved, you will be made the Admin for your project. This will allow you to send a message via GivePulse to all of your ​registered volunteers reminding them about the event, any changes or additional information you need to convey.

Simply login to your account and under the Admin Panel tab, click on Message People, or if you want an Excel spreadsheet of your volunteer’s information click on Export Registrations. The admin options ​provide you with features to email your volunteers, edit the event, register a volunteer and more!

Project leaders are expected to return all tools, gloves, un-distributed t-shirts and other unused goodies during their scheduled return time. You will also be asked via email ​to complete a survey letting us know how everything went and if there are ways we can improve your experience as a Project Leader.

If your project is awarded a mini-grant, you will need to return any unused funds and complete a brief report, including receipts showing how funds were spent. Any paper liability forms will need to be scanned and emailed to volunteer@austinparks.org or delivered in person during tool return.

1. Under the Volunteer tab on austinparks.org, click on It’s My Park Day. The link to the GivePulse registration page can be found there, or in the project leader portal (austinparks.org/project-leaders) once registration is open.
2. Click the “submit project”: button on the GivePulse page. This button is in the right side bar or at the bottom of the page on mobile.
3. GivePulse will prompt you to log in or create an account. Having an account will allow you to login to your project once it has been approved, and give you access to your volunteer contact info, project details and description.
4. Once you’ve logged in, GivePulse will take you back to the project registration page. The project registration page will ask you to name your project, provide detailed descriptions, and allow you to request tools and mini-grants. After you have filled out your project proposal details on the first page, press save and continue. You will then be prompted to fill out “additional info” on your project which can provide helpful details to your volunteers, but you are not required to fill this in to submit a project. You can press save and continue again, and your submission is complete. GivePulse will then bring you back to the registration home page.
5. Your project will be submitted for review by Austin Parks and Recreation, APF, and other relevant city divisions. We will reach out if we have any questions - if we do not reach out everything looks good and no immediate further action is needed. We will publish all projects at the same time 4 weeks before the event. At this point you should publicize your event for volunteers to register, as well as view registered volunteers, contact your group and make any necessary changes to your event.

Questions? Email us at volunteer@austinparks.org.

Anyone can be a project leader! Many of our leaders come from our Adopt-a-Park groups, community service organizations, or are past project leaders or project participants. Specifically for It’s My Park Day, first-time project leaders can email volunteer@austinparks.org before submitting a project idea to learn everything you’ll need to know to propose and lead a successful project.

If you are unsure of whether or not you have what it takes to lead a project mulching trees, doing habitat restoration, trail maintenance, cleanups, etc. email us at volunteer@austinparks.org with questions.

1. Tree mulching and root collar clearing
2. Habitat restoration (invasive exotic plant removal or re-planting natives)
3. Trail maintenance
4. Park or creek cleanups
5. Activation projects to build community and momentum around your space

Other types of projects include nature hikes and seed-ball projects using wildflower and native grass seeds (must be approved by APR) or painting. If you have an idea for a project that is not on this list, please email us at volunteer@austinparks.org for more information.

APF offers mini grants only for It’s My Park Day! You can apply for a mini grant (up to $250) when you register your IMPD project. Mini grants can be used to fund projects all approved projects.

Mini grants can cover the purchase of native seeds, plants, paint, special tools, tool rentals and rental equipment such as a power washers, and other needs. These funds are to be used specifically for the IMPD event and can include small bags of mulch (< 3 cu. yd.), however large mulch orders will be provided by APF. Mulch requests will be accommodated through project submission questions and will be confirmed leading up to your It’s My Park Day event.

All tree and trail mulching project leaders will provide the following when registering for the project: mulch quantity in cubic yards, Google Maps pin for precise drop location, the name, cell number and email for an on-the-ground contact for the driver, and any needed instructions.

Mulch quantities can be determined based on the size of the area you plan to mulch, or based on how many volunteers you plan to recruit for your project. A good rule of thumb is that one strong adult can spread about 1  cu. yds. of mulch. If you need assistance determining an amount, please reach out to volunteer@austinparks.org.

We offer our tool warehouse as a resource to project leaders. However, the demands of our city-wide volunteer days often exceed supplies. Project leaders can make their tool requests through project registration. APF will determine tool numbers well in advance of It’s My Park Day based on anticipated volunteers and tools available, and communicate the assigned list to project leaders.

Ultimately, tool distribution is determined on a case-by-case basis for both large and small projects. Please ask your neighbors and friends to bring their wheelbarrows and other hand tools and work gloves to your park project as well.

In short, no. All projects will be reviewed by APF staff and then sent to Austin Parks & Recreation, Watershed Protection and any other pertinent City of Austin bodies for ultimate approval.  We will follow up with you if we have any questions or concerns. All the projects will be published and opened for volunteer registration at the same time 4 weeks before the event. However, the sooner you submit your project, the better.

Tree mulching, root collar clearing, cleanup and activation projects are typically easily approved. Habitat restoration projects and trail repair & maintenance projects, unless pre-approved with a CAPP or Grow Zone Restoration Plan, tend to take much longer to get approved and may be better suited for a non-IMPD project. Please let us know in your project submission if you have previously discussed your project idea with any APR or pertinent staff.