Get Involved with Parks and Recreation

Looking for ways to get involved with your community? We offer a wide range of opportunities available for students, individuals, businesses, and organizations to volunteer their time and skills to help make the place where we all live, work and play beautiful and fun for all.

Become an Advisory Board Member

San Marcos City government offers a number of ways for its citizens to become actively involved in government business. Membership on these panels is open to all San Marcos citizens.

Become a Contract Instructor

The City of San Marcos's Contract Class program is proud to partner with individuals and organizations to provide quality recreational services and programs to our community. Contract Instructors offer a variety of classes, workshops, and camps for all ages of the community to enjoy. 

Fieldwork and Internships

Fieldwork and internship positions work closely with staff and gain hands-on experience in a variety of areas within the department and across various populations of the community.

Friends of Trees Workdays

Get a hands on learning experience caring for our community trees. Work varies by site, but can include pruning, mulching, root collar excavation, watering or planting trees. Dates, times and locations vary. 

Garden Maintenance Workdays

Learn from local Master Naturalists! Work can include propagation, pond maintenance, composing, and bird watching maintenance. Tuesdays from 8-11AM. To volunteer outside of this time, please email us.

Keep San Marcos Beautiful

An initiative of the Neighborhood Enhancement Department. Volunteer options can include Hot Spot Clean Ups, Adopt-a-Spot, River Clean Ups and more.

Natural Area Workdays

Monthly workdays in greenspaces. Tasks include invasive plant removal, erosion control, seeding efforts, and more. 

Order a Memorial Tree or Bench

The Commemorative Tree & Bench Program provides members of the community a means to honor or memorialize a person or commemorate a special person or occasion.

Parks and Recreation Special Events

The Parks and Recreation Department has many exciting programs and events happening throughout the year and we need your help! Events can include Farmer Fred's Garden Spring and Fall Harvest Carnivals, Party in your Park, Movies in your Park, Me and My Guy Dance and more! Email Youth Services for more information and volunteer event dates.

San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance

The San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance works to protect the quality of life for the people of San Marcos through the creation of interconnected parks and natural areas.

San Marcos River Foundation 

The San Marcos River Foundation works to protect public access and preserve the San Marcos River, focusing on protecting the flow from aquifer-fed springs, improving the water quality and protecting the beauty of the area with parks and regular clean-ups. 

Veterans Initiatives

Residents and visitors can visit the Hays County Veterans Memorial, view and add to the Veteran Story Map, and purchase a plaque to honor a Veteran.