Take an audio tour of Lyndale Parks Native and Shade Garden. This audio tour was created and narrated by garden stewards from the Men’s and Women’s Garden of Minneapolis (MWGCM):

MWGCM Self-Guided Audio Tour

Park Stewardship Program

The Park Stewardship Program allows volunteer groups or individuals to restore, maintain and beautify gardens and natural areas within Minneapolis Parks.

  • Volunteers tend the site as needed, with most (if not all) of the work occurring in non-snow months
  • Each Park Stewardship Agreement is unique according to the site and interest of the volunteer(s)
  • Agreements serve as a communication tool between stewardship volunteers and the MPRB
  • Agreements must be reviewed and renewed annually

Park Stewardship Agreements may include but are not limited to the following examples:

  • The tending of a garden bed – planting, weeding, watering, mulching
  • Invasive species removal – examples include garlic mustard or buckthorn
  • Trash pickup

Each Park Stewardship Agreement must identify a lead volunteer who:

  • Serves as the contact for the group and as the liaison with the MPRB
  • Completes the initial agreement and any annual renewals
  • Keeps a record of volunteer work and hours served for end-of-season submittal to the MPRB Volunteer Coordinator
  • Helps establish annual work plan tasks and goals for the agreement

Park Steward Leaders can expect to receive:

  • A MPRB staff contact person to help with any questions, concerns, and to assist with the development of tasks and work plan goals
  • Assistance with the procurement of loaned tools and supplies needed to achieve agreement goals
  • The recognition and prestige that comes with being a Minneapolis Park Volunteer!

In order to adequately support the work plan goals and activities of our Park Stewardship Program volunteers all Park Stewardship requests received after June 30th will be reviewed for the following calendar year.

Need more information?
Email or inquire about Park Stewardship Programming here.

Natural Areas

Several community groups actively engage to control Invasive species such as buckthorn and garlic mustard in our parks.

Garlic Mustard

  • Please contact Environmental Volunteers prior to removing garlic mustard. Include the location where you plan to pull.
  • All pulled vegetative debris must be bagged (paper or plastic) and labeled “garlic mustard”. Please leave bagged debris near existing Park Board trash bins or along a trail that is easily accessible by truck.
  • Removal timeframe. Pull before seed capsules form on second year plants which occurs between May and June.

Helpful Garlic Mustard Links

Buckthorn

MPRB approval is required prior to commencing buckthorn removal activities. Contact Environmental Volunteers for additional information. You must include the location where you wish to volunteer.

Upon approval of your project please adhere to the following guidelines.

  • Any root mass removals must have prior approval by the MPRB Natural Resources Department.
    • Root mass removal requires approval due to erosion concerns regarding the destabilization of shorelines, hillsides, and slopes, and to alleviate the potential introduction of additional invasive species. Soil disturbance facilitates the spread of invasive species. Invasive species are opportunistic, always looking for places to establish and gain the upper hand in our natural landscapes.
  • Due to safety concerns no cutting or removal of any specimen over 2 inches in diameter without prior approval.
  • Please do not use buckthorn baggies, plastic bags, tarps, or cans to kill stumps without prior MPRB approval. Methods such as these need constant monitoring to prevent them from becoming a potential source of litter.
  • Volunteers are not allowed to use chemicals or power equipment. Hand tools only.
  • Any deviation from the above guidelines must be approved by the MPRB prior to implementation.

Helpful Buckthorn Links

Email to learn more about MPRB Invasive Species volunteer opportunities.

Contact

Email a Volunteer Coordinator:

Follow MPRB Volunteers on Social Media!