City of Colorado Springs celebrates National Volunteer Week, highlights community impact

The City of Colorado Springs is recognizing National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, celebrating residents who contribute their time and talents to improve the community in meaningful ways. City Council approved a resolution Tuesday recognizing National Volunteer Week and honoring volunteers across Colorado Springs. In 2025, thousands of volunteers supported City programs and services across departments, contributing millions of dollars in value and strengthening neighborhoods, public spaces, and community connections.
Volunteer efforts made a measurable impact across the city:

• 103,710 pounds of food distributed, serving 2,111 families
• Nearly 79,000 youth participants supported through sports programs
• 5,900+ students connected to nature through field trips and education
• 415 acres of parkland and 32 miles of trail cared for
• More than 2,400 bags of trash removed

Volunteers also play a critical role in programs that support public safety, environmental stewardship, and civic engagement:

• More than 40,000 hours contributed through the Community Advancing Public Safety (CAPS) Program
• 2,770 hours served by 50 Airport Ambassador volunteers welcoming visitors to Colorado Springs
• 455 volunteers removed over 7.5 tons of litter through the Stormwater Enterprise's Adopt-A-Waterway Program
• Over 100 residents serve on City boards, commissions, and committees, advising on key issues including land use, public safety, and parks

Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services (PRCS) volunteers represent one of the largest areas of impact, with over 3,200 volunteers contributing more than 135,000 hours of service in 2025. Their work supports park maintenance, trail stewardship, recreation programming, and environmental education across the city.

Programs like Adopt-A-Park and Adopt-A-Trail demonstrate the long-term value of volunteer stewardship. Volunteers help maintain hundreds of acres of parkland, care for dozens of miles of trail, and ensure public spaces remain safe, accessible, and welcoming for all.

Volunteer efforts continue year-round through initiatives like Keep It Clean COS. During a recent cleanup event on March 14, 2026, volunteers collected 153 bags of trash and 13 shopping carts, highlighting the ongoing need and impact of community-driven stewardship.

As part of National Volunteer Month, residents and businesses are encouraged to take part in upcoming community cleanup efforts:

Downtown Community Cleanup Day
Tuesday, April 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Local businesses are invited to join the Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs' Clean and Safe Downtown Ambassadors and Richard's Rubbish Roundup to clean and improve outdoor areas throughout downtown. Interested businesses can RSVP to [email protected].

Great American Cleanup
Saturday, May 2
Hosted by Fountain Creek Watershed District and Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful, this nationwide community improvement program includes cleanup events throughout the Fountain Creek Watershed in partnership with local governments, nonprofits, and neighborhood groups.

The City of Colorado Springs offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities for residents looking to get involved, from one-time events to ongoing programs across multiple departments.

To learn more or sign up to volunteer, visit ColoradoSprings.gov/Volunteer.