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I think that,not only should we allow or encourage residents to volunteer in the parks,but I think that the process should be clearly defined and advertised.(If it had known it was an option,I would have gotten involved in maintaining my local park many years ago rather than watching the invasive species spread and wondering why nothing was being done about it.)We’re making some progress with finding volunteers and matching them up with PTRC members who need volunteer assistance,but I think there should also be clearly-defined options for people who want to work independently,such as the Girl Scout group who are putting flowers into Johanna Marsh or residents who want to maintain the woods behind their property. Here is part of a discussion about volunteering on the Arden Hillbillies page: “Can just anyone cut buckthorn on city/park land?Or is there some permitting process required?” “Yes,anyone can remove buckthorn from Arden Hills city property.We have done so over the years behind our house at a small scale with some success in regrowing native species (though honestly not a lot of success 😕 ). Unfortunately,in my experience,Arden Hills doesn't have any real requirements/ education/restrictions for people who want to do large scale buckthorn removal on City property (aside from the waivers Steve mentioned),and though well intentioned,it can have a lasting negative impact on the landscape (e.g.removal of native trees and shrubs that resemble buckthorn,as well as native understory and woody debris that prevent erosion, using improper herbicides near wetlands, etc.) and neighbor relations. My experiences with other Cities and Ramsey County have been dierent than this for sure. I really appreciate that the folx doing the Hazelnut Park project are providing educational moments,involving the local community and including assistance of a naturalist.With things like this and a long-term plan, volunteer work can have fantastic results.” I think that the process should be clearly defined so that there are no surprises;the city knows who is working in the parks,what they intend to do,and if they’re meeting their goals and the resident volunteers know who to communicate with, what work is acceptable to the city, and what is expected of them. I think that the Minneapolis Stewardship Program is a great example of how it could be done: (MPLS) 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