General Volunteer

General Volunteer

Individuals and groups come together as volunteers to help support and enhance Randall’s Island Park. Your efforts will contribute to supporting the Randall’s Island Park Alliance and ensuring the park is a vibrant and wonderful place for all New Yorkers to access and enjoy!

Volunteer Resources

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Volunteer Inquiry Form
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Directions
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Waiver for 16/17 year-olds
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Code of Conduct
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Corporate Volunteer
Registration

If you are interested in volunteering as an individual or with a group, send us an inquiry!

Map

Volunteer projects happen throughout the park. Please view our park map for wayfinding.

Waiver

This waiver is for volunteers ages 16-17 only. This age group may volunteer unsupervised with a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. For more information about what ages can volunteer, please check our FAQ.

Volunteer Rules

We ask that all our volunteers please read and adhere to our Code of Conduct, to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Corporate Volunteers

If you are interested in planning a corporate volunteer project, send us an inquiry!

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Volunteer Inquiry Form
Registration

If you are interested in volunteering as an individual or with a group, send us an inquiry!

icon
Directions
Map

Volunteer projects happen throughout the park. Please view our park map for wayfinding.

icon
Waiver for 16/17 year-olds
Waiver

This waiver is for volunteers ages 16-17 only. This age group may volunteer unsupervised with a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. For more information about what ages can volunteer, please check our FAQ.

icon
Code of Conduct
Volunteer Rules

We ask that all our volunteers please read and adhere to our Code of Conduct, to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

icon
Corporate Volunteer
Corporate Volunteers

If you are interested in planning a corporate volunteer project, send us an inquiry!

Weekly Individual Volunteering Opportunities

The Randall’s Island Park Alliance provides interested community members with weekly and special weekend volunteer opportunities from spring to fall, made possible by support from individuals, foundations, and grants.

Join our volunteer team on Wednesdays (9:30 AM-12:30 PM, mid-March to early December) and Saturdays (late autumn). Help restore natural areas, maintain gardens, meadows, and sports fields, and support public events and operations across our beautiful grounds and picnic spaces. Open to all but registration is required. Sign up and make a difference!

Urban Farm Volunteers

From April to mid-October our Urban Farm offers volunteering from 10 AM to 1 PM on Sundays. Get your hands dirty weeding, composting, and aiding with daily farm tasks. No prior farming experience is necessary, and no advanced registration is needed. We ask that volunteers commit at least two hours of service.

Become a Team RIVER Member

Those who contribute over 15 hours volunteering in a season at any of our volunteer opportunities become Team RIVER (Randall’s Island Volunteer Ecological Restorers) Members. Members receive a swag bag and are invited to enrichment activities.

Contact: [email protected] for more details.

Community-Based Organizations, Non-Profits, and Schools

The Randall’s Island Park Alliance welcomes community-based organizations, non-profits, and school groups to help us care for our 330 acres of parkland. We will work with you to find a date and a project that suits your group. Projects will vary depending on the needs of the park. For more information, please fill out a Group Volunteer Inquiry Form or email [email protected].

Service Learning

The Randall’s Island Park Alliance hosts school groups and community-based organizations for service-learning events, as a component of our Urban Farm, Waterfront Stewardship, and Park-as-Lab programs. These events combine community service with an educational component to create positive and informational context for the volunteer project; students leave both with knowledge and a sense of accomplishment through having given back to their community.

Our Partners

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F.A.Q.

How do I become a Volunteer?

Just sign up! Our community volunteer programs include public drop-in and registered events, and we work with interested groups to plan a date. If you are interested in volunteering as an individual, please check out our events calendar. If you are interested in bringing a corporate or community group, please send us an inquiry at [email protected].

What is the minimum age to volunteer?

You must be 11 years or older to volunteer for all events except Family Volunteers Days at our Urban Farm (link to volunteer at urban farm).

Children 15 and under must have an adult present while volunteering.
Children age 16-17 may volunteer unsupervised but must bring a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. Please visit the events calendar for public volunteer opportunities and age requirements.

What does RIPA Provide?

We provide the following amenities to volunteers during projects: water, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellant, and all tools, gloves, and equipment needed for the project.

*Special requests such as catered meals may include additional costs.

What should I wear to volunteer?

Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and footwear that you don’t mind getting dirty. We highly recommend closed-toed shoes and long pants.

What are some typical volunteer jobs?
  • Native Habitat Restoration – Supporting local ecosystems by weeding invasive species
  • Marine Plastic Removal – Cleaning up litter and plastics from our shorelines
  • Public Access Enhancements – Mulching and cribbing walking paths to improve access
  • Garden Restoration – Maintaining stunning horticultural space through gardening tasks
  • Urban Farm Maintenance – Assisting the farmers with chores such as composting
  • Public Program Events – Helping with activities at our public programming events
What happens if the weather is bad?

Volunteer projects happen rain or shine, barring unsafe conditions. RIPA will do everything possible to notify the volunteers in the event of a cancellation. Please check social media for Urban Farm and Team RIVER volunteer day cancellations.

Do I have to sign a waiver?

Yes, all volunteers must sign a waiver.
Adult waivers will be signed onsite at volunteer check-in.
Children 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who can sign their waiver.
Children ages 16-17 who are volunteering unaccompanied must bring a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.

Click here to see the Waiver for Minors

Can I receive credit for my volunteer hours?

Yes! Volunteer hours completed as part of one of our regular programs are eligible for credit at schools and other institutions. Please reach out to [email protected] or contact our volunteer coordinator onsite to sign any necessary documentation.

Get Involved

Donate

Your work and donation will help us keep Randall’s Island Park a vibrant and wonderful place for all New Yorkers!

Careers

We are looking for candidates who are excited about Randall’s Island Park Alliance (RIPA) and would enjoy working in a park!

Contact Us

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