Opportunities From: Volunteer McKinney

Last Saturday of the Month Workday

Green Gardens at Gabe Nesbitt Park • 3339 Alma Rd, McKinney, TX 75070

April 25 • 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

PLEASE READ: Guardians are required to be on site at all times to supervisor minors. Minors without a guardian present are not able to participate.

Thank you for your cooperation.

This recurring workday offers hands-on learning opportunities in native and drought-tolerant gardening, composting, water conservation, and watershed protection.

 

What to bring

Gloves and waterDress appropriately for gardening: long pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, and a hat are recommended.Personal tools are optional and may include wheelbarrows, clippers, shovels, and rakes Sunscreen and bug spray are recommended

 

Workday activities

Suppressing weeds Laying cardboard and mulch to winterize the gardenCheck out these photos from Workdays Past 

 

 

 

Parking

Parking lots are directly across from the garden 3339 Alma Rd, McKinney, TX 75070 (map) No parking on Hillsdale Dr. Water tower access must remain clear

 

Restrooms

Available within walking distance at The Courts of McKinney, 3253 Alma Rd, McKinney, TX 75070 (map)

This event is light rain or shine. Severe weather may result in cancellation or early dismissal. Volunteers will be notified.

Save the Date: Volunteer Opportunities Every Last Saturday of the Month!

 

Spring: 9-11 a.m.

Feb. 28

March 28

April 25

May 30

 

Summer: 8-10 a.m.

June 27

July 25

Aug. 29

Fall: 9-11 a.m.

Sep. 26

Oct. 31

 

No events Nov.-Dec.

 

Monarch butterflies and other pollinators need our help, and you can make a real impact right at home.  

Join Keep McKinney Beautiful in promoting the creation of Monarch Waystations throughout McKinney. By planting native and adapted plants, residents can provide essential food, shelter, and breeding habitat for monarchs and other pollinators while contributing to a healthier, more resilient community. Monarch populations continue to face habitat loss across North America. Small actions, like a native backyard garden or container planting, add up to big change as native plants support pollinators, birds, and local ecosystems. 

McKinney proudly supports monarch conservation at the leadership level as well. The Mayor of McKinney annually participates in the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayoral Monarch Pledge, reinforcing the City’s ongoing commitment to protecting pollinators and expanding habitat. 

 Ways to Get Involved 

Create a Monarch Waystation at home, school, or workplace Convert part of your landscape or garden bed to native plants Volunteer with Keep McKinney Beautiful initiatives Join a local Bioblitz through iNaturalist Learn how to replace turf or invasives with pollinator-friendly plants Share your habitat and inspire others to join in Collect real-time data with Project Monarch Science

Helpful Resources 

Green Gardens at Gabe Nesbitt Park

The Green Gardens of McKinney serve as an excellent local example of how native plants and pollinator-friendly designs can thrive in public spaces. These gardens demonstrate how thoughtful planting supports monarchs, conserves water, and builds community pride. 

Program HOME 

A Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalist project that aims to consult and help guide residents in our community in creating habitats, increasing biodiversity, and educating about sustainability. This program is designed to help all residents, from landowners to homeowners to apartment occupants, by helping them achieve their goals for their own spaces. 

Monarch Waystation Program 
Create a Monarch Waystation to give butterflies and other pollinators the food and shelter they need to survive by planting native and adapted plants. 

National Wildlife Federation Certification Program 
Anyone can create a welcoming haven for local wildlife. Turning your yard, balcony container garden, schoolyard, work landscape, or roadside greenspace into a Certified Wildlife Habitat®is fun, easy, and can make a lasting difference for wildlife. 

Homegrown National Park Project 

Be part of a nationwide movement to restore biodiversity by planting native plants and removing invasives, turning everyday spaces into a connected “national park” for wildlife.

Did you create a Monarch Waystation or pollinator garden? We’d love to hear about it! Your story helps inspire others and strengthens our growing habitat network across McKinney. 

Share Your Monarch Waystation Story with Keep McKinney Beautiful 

Together, we can grow a network of pollinator habitats across McKinney, one garden at a time.

Adopt-A-Spot

We need your help! Consider adopting a park, section of creek, green space, or road to pick up litter and help keep our community clean and healthy.

Adopt-A-Spot is a community-based program developed by Keep McKinney Beautiful and the Office 

of Environmental Sustainability. It gives individuals and groups a public way to show pride in their community and help keep it litter-free. 

Who can participate?

The program is free and open to all citizens. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers who Adopt-A-Spot pledge to:

maintain their spot for one year or longer, agree to maintain the spot four times within the year, and send progress reports to the Office of Environmental Sustainability. How to get started Organize your volunteer group. Families, neighborhoods, HOAs, civic groups, Scouts, and business groups are eligible. Determine a spot to adopt. This can range from your neighborhood block to a right-of-way within the city. Be sure wherever your group adopts is age-appropriate for your party. Complete the Adopt-A-Spot: New Submission Request Once approved, schedule your tool and volunteer waiver pick-up by emailing the Office of Environmental Sustainability. Tools and completed volunteer waivers are to be returned within one week of the clean-up event. Where can be adopted? Any spot within the city limits of McKinney that is not currently being maintained may be adopted, with special attention to those places that appear neglected. A vacant lot, city medians, and right-of-ways are possible candidates. Some spots may require litter pick up to be maintained, others may require weeding and/or grass maintenance, as well as litter pick up. Our Adopt-A-Spot coordinator can help you choose a location that best suits you and your group. You can use the Trash Free Texas Interactive Map or send an inquiry with the specific location in mind.

NOTE: TxDot roadways such as 380,  75, and 5 cannot be adopted through this program.

Why Adopt-A-Spot?

Litter is the biggest source of pollution for our local waterways. Keeping our streams clean means that we live in a healthier community and enjoy a higher quality of life.

Being an Adopter gives participants an opportunity to give back to the community, teach their children about community responsibility, receive positive publicity for their business, and gain valuable community volunteer experience.

After the clean-up Submit a Wrap-Up Report after the cleanup event Email us photos and post them on your social media. Be sure to tag #KeepMcKinneyBeautiful #UniquebyNature

Adopt-A-Spot applies only to city property, however, we are willing to work with HOAs to coordinate cleanups in their communities.

Resources Before the Clean-Up During the Clean-Up Clean-Up Checklist DMWT Activity Book Not interested in adopting a spot, but still want to participate in a clean-up? 

For one-time clean-up events, we have a lending system for tools. Email Green@McKinneyTexas.org for more information.

All areas within City Limits are eligible to report Wrap-Up Reports to report their community effort in Cleanups around the City.