Get Involved

There are several ways you can get involved with the Friends of Hudson Parks.

First and foremost we encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the Hudson parks!  Hudson has over 20 parks with a wide variety of activities, from hiking and biking and cross-country skiing to ball fields, playgrounds, splash pad, pavilions, and other activities.  More information on each park is available here.

Throughout the year the Friends sponsors or supports many different programs in the parks.  See here for a list of what’s happening now, to join either as a participant or a volunteer.  Whether you’re looking for ongoing volunteer opportunities or shorter term hours to fulfill school obligations, we are always in need of helping hands during our events.  Contact us through friendsofhudsonparks@gmail.com.

None of these programs would be possible without financial support through donations and membership in the Friends of Hudson Parks.  Please consider becoming a member!  Membership forms with instructions can be downloaded here. 

You can become a Friends of Hudson Parks Member, a Sponsor or make a Donation by clicking the buttons below. Thank you!

Volunteer Opportunities

The Friends of Hudson Parks is an all-volunteer organization. We have no paid staff and rely on volunteers to develop and oversee our programs and activities. Volunteers can get involved in a number of ways – by serving as officers and directors, serving on committees, acting as ambassadors, and participating in special events and projects.

Officers and Directors

Officers include President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Seven Directors complete the Board. Directors participate in Board meetings, volunteer at sponsored events and chair committee meetings. The Volunteer Coordinator oversees scheduling and tracking of volunteer hours.

Committees

Park Ambassadors: Assigned to neighborhood parks. Periodically visit assigned park to answer visitor questions, promote FOHP programs and report maintenance issues to Hudson Parks staff.

Programming Committee: Plans recreational programs which are scheduled in the Hudson Parks. Programs currently include Geocaching Adventure, Race for the Parks, Kayak and Paddleboard Classes, Pack the Pond and Hike Hudson.

Conservation Committee: Advocates for conservation, restoration and preservation of park land and other Hudson natural resources. Works to restore ecological biodiversity and promote the principles of environmental stewardship. Manages various Monarch Way Stations. Organizes and participates in the removal of invasive plants such as garlic mustard. Develops projects to restore parks ecosystems including the Darrow Road Meadow, Darrow Road Stream and Wetlands Restoration and Biological Management Plans to remove invasive species.

Education Committee: Develops and delivers educational programs in Hudson parks. Major children’s activities include the Preschool Parents Children’s Fair, Summer Education Program, Playground Palooza, and the Story Walks.  Adult programs include Wildflower and History Hikes and Migratory Bird Week.

Publicity and Communications Committee: Responsible for communications including press releases, advertisements, newsletters, social media (Facebook and Instagram) and the FOHP website. Participates in FOHP community events.  Maintains park informational kiosks.

Membership Committee: Responsible for recruiting, orienting new members and retaining existing members. Notifies Committee Chairs of member interest in participating with a committee. Oversees sponsorships and fund raising for special events.

Special Events and Activities 

FOHP welcomes volunteers at all of our events such as the Race for the Parks and Pack the Pond. We also look for volunteers to assist with special projects such as invasive plant removal and maintaining our monarch gardens.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact us at friendsofhudsonparks@gmail.com.