Volunteer Outdoors in Palo Alto: Bioretention Area Maintenance at Southgate

Come together to volunteer at the bioretention area - an innovative type of green infrastructure that naturally filters stormwater runoff and improves water quality - located in the Southgate neighborhood of Palo Alto. We will meet once a month. We will be prepping these systems for the winter rains by clearing debris and pruning plants.

Learn more about Southgate’s bioretention basins and other forms of green stormwater infrastructure here.

Waivers/Registration: All volunteers who attend must be registered individually and have approved the online waiver. Youth under 18 must have their legal guardian approve the waiver on their behalf. Volunteers under the age of 12 must be with an accompanying adult.

Parking: 2-hr street parking is available.

Alternate Transportation: Walking/Human-powered locomotion: 15 mins walk from Caltrain Station/ 7 mins walk from El Camino & Churchill bus stop . Train: Take Caltrain and get off at California Ave station [Caltrain weekend schedule] Bus: Take VTA route 22 and get off at El Camino & Churchill [Route 22 Bus Schedule]

Meeting Space: Miramonte and Castilleja Ave [ Google Maps Pin]

Restrooms: none, however there are gender-specific multi-user restrooms available at Peers Park nearby

Prepare for Working Outdoors:

• Reusable water bottle (filled with water)
• Snacks, if desired
• Long pants, long sleeves recommended
• Sturdy closed-toed shoes that can get dirty
• Hat/sunscreen or rain gear/boots
• Epi-Pen or allergy medicine, if applicable
• Plan for potential exposure to sun

We will provide gloves, tools, water, and snacks.

Event Cancellations:

We are committed to the safety of our staff and volunteers. In the event that we must cancel a workday due to extreme weather conditions or poor air quality, a Grassroots Ecology staff person will reach out via email no later than 5:00 PM the day prior to this event.

Join Us!

Grassroots Ecology encourages people from all identities and backgrounds to participate in our programs. Many of our programs are outdoors and involve moving and working in a variety of landscapes. If you have accessibility concerns (e.g. allergies, limited mobility, learning differences), our projects are flexible and we are happy to work with you. Please reach out to the workday facilitator so we can prepare for your participation.

Accessibility concerns? Questions? Cancellations? Email [email protected]

Host or Publisher Grassroots Ecology