Get Involved with Leaf Out

Leaf Out is a city-wide initiative to protect, expand, and steward Raleigh’s urban tree canopy and natural spaces.

There are many ways to get involved, from helping with litter clean-up to participating in restoration and stewardship projects.

Whether you want to take action in your local park, along a stream, or as part of a larger city-wide effort, your participation makes a difference!

Litter and Clean-Up Activities

Help keep Raleigh’s parks, trails, and waterways clean!

• Join a long-term litter removal commitment to keep Raleigh’s greenways and parks clean.
  Learn more & Sign Up for Adopt-a-Trail
  Learn more & Sign Up for Adopt-a-Park
• Help protect Raleigh’s waterways by removing litter along creeks and streams.
  Learn More & Sign Up for Adopt-a-Stream

Restoration and Stewardship Activities

Help improve the long-term health of Raleigh’s natural areas!

• Invasive Species Removal – Remove harmful plants to help native trees and wildlife thrive.
• Tree Planting and Maintenance – Support Raleigh’s urban forest by planting trees and learning how to care for them.
  Learn more about the Raleigh Parks Volunteer Program
• Community Streambank Stabilization Workshops – Learn hands-on techniques to improve stream health and prevent erosion.
  Learn more about Stream Bank Repair Workshops 
• Buffer Builder Bag Program – Improve water quality by planting native vegetation in riparian buffers.
  Learn more about the Buffer Builder Bag Program

Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) and Water Quality Programs

Get involved in making Raleigh more resilient!

• Raleigh Rainwater Rewards – Receive City cost-share to install rain gardens, cisterns, permeable pavement, and more on your property to manage stormwater.
  Learn more about Raleigh Rainwater Rewards
• Green Stormwater Infrastructure Visual Monitoring Program – Help track through photos how the City's GSI projects grow and change over time!
  Learn more about Green Stormwater Infrastructure Visual Monitoring

Join a City Advisory Board

Make your voice heard!

Raleigh has several advisory boards that shape policies related to parks, trees, and sustainability.

• Parks, Recreation & Greenway Advisory Board
• Environmental Advisory Board
• City of Oaks Foundation
• Stormwater Management Advisory Commission

 Learn More & Apply for Boards and Commissions