Montgomery Parks has announced a record-breaking year for its Montgomery Parks Weed Warrior Volunteer Program, galvanizing the county in the fight against non-native invasive plants (NNIs).  

NNIs are a growing threat to the environment of Maryland counties. NNI vines can strangle and smother trees. NNI shrubs can displace and shade out native plants that provide birds and other wildlife with food and shelter.  The Weed Warriors have been integral to Montgomery Parks’ efforts and enormously contributed to controlling NNIs in county parks. In 2023, the Weed Warriors logged a record-breaking 12,490 volunteer hours, freeing over 17,000 trees and shrubs from NNI vines and tackling other destructive plant species, such as multiflora rose and porcelainberry. Their work is a significant cost saving for the county parks department, reducing staff hours dealing with NNIs and benefiting the environment by using non-chemical methods to remove invasives.

“Weed Warriors do more than just ‘pull weeds,” said Corinne Stephens, Weed Warrior volunteer coordinator. “Without the help of these community members it would be much more difficult to control invasive plants. Volunteers also help restore natural habitats by planting native plants and seeds that are cultivated at our Pope Farm Nursery facility. We couldn’t do it without them!”

This April, Montgomery Parks celebrates Earth Month, and welcomes groups of all kinds to organize a cleanup at one of our parks. Weed Warrior events will be held during Earth Day weekend at Cabin John Local Park on Saturday, April 20, and Long Branch Stream Valley Park on Sunday, April 21.

About the Montgomery Parks Weed Warriors Program

The Weed Warrior Volunteer Program was created in 1999 to empower community members to help Montgomery Parks staff manage non-native invasive plants (NNIs) on parkland. Volunteers are taught to properly identify and manage specific species of NNIs using best management practices.

About Montgomery Parks 
Montgomery Parks manages over 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 419 parks.  Montgomery Parks promotes physical activity, social connectivity, and environmental stewardship, especially in diverse and urbanizing areas, emphasizing teens, working-age adults, and seniors. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other park systems.

For more information, contact Marika Carley, Public Relations and Outreach Specialist at Montgomery Parks, at Marika.Carley@MontgomeryParks.org. (O): 301.495.2522