City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department

2024 UPCYCLE

UPCYCLE volunteers, in partnership with the City of Des Moines, Blank Park Zoo, Trees Forever, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and Confluence Brewing help us improve our water quality, diversify our natural areas, and UPCYCLE invasive brush into food and fun for Blank Park Zoo’s birds, reptiles, primates, and mammals. Volunteers will be provided gloves and tools to cut, remove, and treat invasive brush crowding out native plants. The first 40 volunteers that sign up online AND attend the event will get a drink ticket to be redeemed following the workday at Confluence Brewing! Events occur from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the third Thursdays of June, July, and August (with a rain date in September).

Des Moines has beautiful natural areas, but the beneficial native species are competing with many invasive species such as honeysuckle. These invasive species shade out the native plants and dominate the landscape. We are working hard to bring back the natives and increase diversity to create healthier natural areas. There are even added benefits because native species do a better job of holding the soils together and keeping them in place preventing them from running off into our creeks and streams. Although we don’t need these invasive species, they’ll help fill needs at the Blank Park Zoo where animals can use them for food, play, and practice foraging, flying, and other skills.

Call 515-248-6399 or text DSMVOLUNTEERS to 84483 to sign-up for weather-related updates.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the work location has been adjusted for the 2024 season. Please make sure you double check the location and map link before registering. Questions? Please email parksvolunteer@dmgov.org. Thank you!