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Lake Forest highlights volunteer park-inspection program; city seeks more participants
Summary
City staff told the Community Services Commission that the Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program, launched in 2021, has 18 residents inspecting 31 parks quarterly and seeks more volunteers; inspectors use a digital 1-to-5 condition rating and staff are notified automatically of urgent issues.
Lake Forest City officials on Aug. 6 told the Community Services Commission that the Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program, created after a 2020 council directive and started in August 2021, now has 18 volunteer inspectors covering the city’s 31 parks.
Management assistant Peggy Samantha told commissioners the VIP program assigns residents to inspect one park (volunteers may take on additional parks) on a quarterly basis and uses a digital form to collect a 1-to-5 condition rating for landscaping, gazebos, restrooms and other amenities. "We currently have 18 volunteers that inspect 31 parks," Samantha said.
The city maintains nearly 300 acres of parks, Samantha said, including nine sports parks such as Lake Forest Sports Park and 22 passive parks. Volunteers receive initial training from landscape administrators, are expected to commit for one year for consistency and are asked to use a mobile device to complete inspections and upload photos. Completed forms are routed automatically to staff; volunteers are instructed to email staff directly for urgent problems.
Commissioners and volunteers in the meeting praised the program’s work. Volunteer Loretta Herron described the experience as educational and said VIPs track detailed park information: "They count every tree in our parks. Let me keep track of I feel like every ounce of water that we spend on, you know, all of our parks," she said. Commissioners asked about gaps in coverage; Samantha said the city maintains an interest list and will place residents as vacancies arise.
Why it matters: The VIP program supplements city inspections by providing regular, neighborhood-level monitoring that helps staff spot vandalism, irrigation problems and other maintenance needs earlier. Samantha told the commission graffiti in restrooms and irrigation breaks are among the issues most commonly reported by volunteers.
How to participate: Samantha said volunteers should complete the adult volunteer application on the city website and that the city mails the inspection form link quarterly. Volunteers are recognized annually by the city council and are invited to two dinners a year to discuss topics such as landscaping, water conservation and safety.
Commissioners noted the program’s flexibility for working residents — inspections can be done on weekends or at times convenient to volunteers — and encouraged outreach to increase participation.
The presentation closed with Samantha offering to take contact information for residents interested in being placed on the VIP preference list.
