The City of Ocala’s Leave It Better program is designed to increase community involvement in preserving our city parks. The program is voluntary and is designed for organizations, business, and individuals. Each volunteering group assumes the responsibility for an assigned park or section of a park and agrees to participate in approved park improvements. The City of Ocala, Recreation and Parks department will work with the Leave It Better group to select a park, outline a project and provide guidelines.

LEAVE IT BETTER PIONEERS

• Each group will choose a site they want to work in.
• The group will make a site visit and prepare a work day plan (A department representative would be happy to accompany the group).
• The group will submit the plan to Ocala Recreation and Parks for approval and scheduling.

LEAVE IT BETTER SPONSORS

Do you think something is missing in the park? Have an idea for designated area and interested in helping fund these improvements? Then you need to be a Leave It Better sponsor!

• Grass, plants, trees and other landscaping
• Irrigation system
• Playground equipment
• Picnic Shelters
• Benches, picnic tables, etc.
• Walking trail
• Exercise equipment

GUIDELINES

The Leave It Better program is a voluntary program and is designed to contribute to the enhancement of our city parks.

For Work Day Plan Implementation:

• Each Organization, company, business etc., must have a contact person that will deal directly with the Recreation and Parks department.
• Children under the age of eighteen(18) are required to have emergency contact information accessible at the work site. One adult supervisor is required for every five (5) children. Children under the of eight (8) are not permitted to volunteer with the group.
• For volunteers logging community service hours, a log sheet or other appropriate forms detailing the hours worked with the individuals name must be submitted to the Recreation and Parks department within one week of the completion of your work day to be signed to be validated.
• The group must have prior approval from Recreation and Parks before conducting work at the site.
• The group must notify the Recreation & Parks department in advance if their intended work day needs to be rescheduled.
• Upon receipt of participation log, the City will prepare written certificates of participation as indicated on the log and will return same to organization contact.

The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department will:

• Assist the group in identifying projects as needed.
• Provide, minor tools and equipment, and supplies that the group cannot supply on their own.

Interested organizations should contact our Resource Development Manager, Connie Carroll at ccarroll@ocalafl.gov to complete an Agency Registration Form.