ARLINGTON, Texas– Arlington Parks & Recreation offers several volunteer opportunities to help maintain cleanliness and beautify city spaces.

Arlington is located in the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and is home to some of the hottest spots for entertainment in the state. Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, Six Flags Over Texas, and many more attractions have made Arlington a prime destination for tourists.

But with more people comes more trash. The city council has started a movement to tackle the littering issue using the slogan, “Champion Great Neighborhoods.” This movement highlights the importance of volunteer work and how restoring and maintaining the beauty of the environment will be beneficial to everyone in the city.

There is a wide array of volunteer opportunities to choose from at the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department, and every year it hosts events for hundreds of residents who are eager to transform their city.

“Each year over 500 dedicated individual volunteers provide ongoing support to Arlington Parks and Recreation, while an additional 1,000 or more group volunteer participants join in single-day service projects like litter removal within our parks,” Montana Williams, the administrative services coordinator for Arlington Parks and Recreation, said.  “Volunteering with Arlington Parks and Recreation offers a unique chance to strengthen and enhance the local community while developing valuable skills.”

When one thinks about volunteer opportunities, the image of picking up litter from public areas or nature reserves usually comes to mind. While residents can participate in this by becoming an adopt-a-spot member or joining a clean-up crew, they can also volunteer to coach a youth sport team, assist at local golf courses and help plan for community events.

“While volunteering, individuals gain hands-on experience, build connections with like-minded people, and often learn something new,” Williams said. “Many also enjoy a sense of accomplishment and pride, knowing they have contributed towards making Arlington a more vibrant, welcoming city.”

Williams said that Arlington’s Park and Recreation team is able to host clean-up and gardening initiatives for a variety of organizations. Local churches, businesses and schools all can volunteer to help keep Arlington beautiful. Parks and Recreation also offers a program for generous doners who want to sponsor a clean-up event in a specific part of town. It is called the adopt-a-median program, and it is typically sponsored by a local business. Much like the adopt-a-spot program, it focuses on cleaning up a certain area of town, typically being the medians on Green Oaks Boulevard.

James Orloski, director of Arlington Parks and Recreation, said it’s easy for donors to get involved in the program.

“For $500, local businesses can pay to sponsor a median, offsetting the cost of litter pick-up and enhancing cleanliness in our community,” Orloski said. “Basically, whether someone wants to volunteer time and put in sweat equity, or they want to write a check to assist the city’s efforts, there are opportunities to volunteer and support the Parks and Recreation Department and city as a whole.”