Once an overgrown, unofficial trash dump, Oso Creek Park is now a thriving destination for hikers, mountain bikers and joggers — thanks to the committed efforts of volunteers in Corpus Christi’s Adopt-A-Park program.
Led by resident Art Norman, these dedicated volunteers adopted Section 2 of Oso Creek Park in 2009 when the program was first initiated.
“I had gotten into mountain biking when I lived in Austin,” Norman said. “I had my eye on the Oso Creek Park for awhile and thought it would be a perfect place for biking trails. So when the opportunity came, I applied for the Adopt-A-Park program as an individual.”
The Adopt-A-Park program is a great option for volunteers of all ages, including kids, to contribute in a way that impacts entire communities. This particular program has seen church groups, Scouts, companies, individuals, families and disabled citizens unite to clean up trash, add mulch to playground and landscape beds, prune small trees and shrubs, power wash graffiti, plant new trees and shrubs and then water them when needed.
“These groups take pride in their adopted parks, and it makes a huge positive impact on our community,” said Neal Patel of the parks and recreation department.
All Corpus Christi parks are available for adoption. There is no minimum volunteer time requirement; however, the city asks that volunteers report their hours.
Because of budget and workforce constraints, the parks and recreation department relies on the efforts of volunteers to maintain parks, Patel said.
“Anyone who has the time and passion for having a safe, functional and beautiful park can volunteer,” Patel continued.
However, the program requires adult supervision of children 16 and younger. The requirement ratio is one adult per five participants under the age of 16.
At Oso Creek Park, volunteers hauled away more than two dozen truckloads of trash and cleared nearly 5 miles of hike-and-bike trails.
After five years of committed work, the park continues to be improved and maintained. Volunteers have started a habitat restoration effort guided by a Master Naturalist. Norman leads a volunteer day every third Saturday of the month.
“With the Adopt-A-Park program, you get out of it what you put into it,” Norman said.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
o apply for the program, fill out the application at ccparkandrec.com or call (361) 826-3400.