Point Defiance Park - Work Party at Animal Loop Road!
Meet at the trail entrance on the west side of the Zoo Maintenance buildings on North Animal Loop Rd.
Join local botanist Romey Haberle to take back the trailside from nonnative blackberries and set the native berries free. We are working to restore the tree canopy in this favorite birding spot and entrance trail to our beautiful forest. A seasonal small wetland makes this a unique location, with many different kinds of plants not seen in most of the park. Across the seasons, we'll take a short stroll to practice plant names and see what natural wonders are unfolding in this special spot.
This opportunity is best for ages 12+ because we will mostly be working with blackberries and those bite back!
Tools and gloves provided but please dress appropriately.
Schedule Summary
This activity has the following schedule
| Date | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, July 19, 2026 | 9:30 AM | 12:00 PM |
| Sunday, August 16, 2026 | 9:30 AM | 12:00 PM |
| Sunday, September 20, 2026 | 9:30 AM | 12:00 PM |
| Sunday, October 18, 2026 | 9:30 AM | 12:00 PM |
| Sunday, November 15, 2026 | 9:30 AM | 12:00 PM |
Our parks need you
Parks Tacoma manages over 2,812 acres of parks and green space, historic landmarks, community centers, beautiful gardens, and special attractions that give us all a chance to get out and play more.
We're asking you to chip in by investing your time and talents to help us improve parks and green spaces, protect neighborhood buildings, and promote a healthier environment while also helping to build a stronger community.
Our roots
Park Volunteers, formerly known as "CHIP-in!" originated in 2003 when Parks Tacoma faced a lack of funds for maintaining all of the city's parks. Rather than take drastic measures - simply closing parks and walking away - a proactive approach was taken to develop a partnership between the park district and the community to help keep parks open and operating.
