Individuals of all ages, community groups, youth groups, special interest groups, corporations, schools, agencies, and families are all welcome to adopt a park. Anyone 16 and under must be supervised by a responsible adult while volunteering.
 

Many, but not all parks, are available for adoption. Some have less volunteer involvement, and are in great need for assistance during the busy season. Please contact us to see what parks are available for adoption.    

Yes! In accordance with Public Act 15-106, we’re launching a new program financial donation program for individuals, companies and other organizations to contribute directly to a park.

• Choose from different levels of financial support to provide resources to the park. Depending on the size of your generous gift, the donor name may be displayed on signage at the entrance to that park for a pre-determined length of time.  
• Contact Tom Tyler at (860) 424-3099 or tom.tyler@ct.gov for more information.
   

Help us maintain a garden, pick up litter clean up along a waterway, monitor the area for vandalism and potentially hazardous situations, clean graffiti, maintain trails, remove invasive weeds and species, and other jobs suggested by the park supervisor.

We appreciate a one-year commitment, with most of your visits during our busiest period between May and September.

We encourage visiting your park at least once a month. Adopting volunteers choose their service dates, agreed upon with the park supervisor.

Depending on the service provided, some parks may ask their adopting volunteers to bring along cleaning supplies such as trash bags, dustpans, brooms, buckets, graffiti removal soap, etc. In some cases gardening supplies may be brought along such as rakes and shovels. The volunteer coordinator will confirm the information with you before your first visit.

It is necessary for adopting volunteers to wear their ID badge at all times during the service activity. Signed by the State Parks Division director, the badge allows volunteers to park and enter the park free of charge on service days.
 

Please report your service hours to the volunteer coordinator each time you visit your park. You may report safety threats, hazards, and vandalism to the park supervisor or volunteer coordinator as soon as you become aware of it.

• Learn and follow park regulations.
• Work only in fair weather, during park hours.
• Always wear your Adopt a Park volunteer badge when you work.
• Please do not leave unattended pets or small children in vehicles while you volunteer.
• Always provide adult supervision (18 and over) to youth 16 and under.
• Always carry a first-aid kit, in case of emergencies.
• Bring plenty of sunscreen, bug spray, a first-aid kit, water, snacks, etc.
• Always wear protective gloves when picking up trash.
• Never over-exert yourself. Work comfortably, at your own pace.
• Use a buddy system whenever possible. Notify someone from the park if you will work alone.
• Keep the park supervisor’s and volunteer coordinator’s phone numbers handy each time you visit your park.

• Adopt a Park provides a service teaching opportunity for a family or a school group, a team building activity for an agency, and a day of service for individuals.
• During the service dates indicated on their Adopt a Park badge, adopting volunteers can park at their site free of charge, if parking fees are in effect.
• As an adopting volunteer, you will enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you are a direct part of our efforts to provide the safest and most enjoyable experience to our visiting guests.
• Give back to the park you love, knowing that without your kind service our labor would be far more difficult to achieve.
• Recognition for your family’s, individual, group or organization’s contributions.
   

Adopting volunteers will receive a thank you letter of appreciation from the Agency, potentially featured on our website, or additional recognition at your park.