Community members serve on town appointed boards, providing recommendations to elected officials on a range of issues.

Hillsborough community members also can serve on Orange County boards, with some of these boards requiring a recommendation or appointment from the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners.

To assist with these workdays, contact the Public Space and Sustainability Division. 

Gold Park Pollinator Garden

The pollinator garden is maintained by the Orange County Master Gardener Program, a program of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Orange County Center.

Workdays are typically 8-10 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month from March to October. Volunteers are encouraged to bring sun protection, a water bottle and any favorite gardening tools.

Gold Park is located at 415 Dimmocks Mill Road. The garden is along the Riverwalk greenway, south of the railroad trestle.

Removal of Invasive Plants

The Tree Board's invasive species removal team meets weekly to remove invasive plants and plant native plants in Hillsborough’s public spaces. 

The team gathers for two hours on Wednesdays, meeting in the afternoon in cooler months and in the morning during the summer. Volunteers bring loppers and shears to remove plants during removal season and shovels and trowels to plant during planting season.

Litter Cleanup

Help pick up litter within town limits. The town will provide gloves, grabbers and trash bags. Volunteers can leave the trash bags in the collection area and the Public Works Division will pick up the bags for disposal.

To help with stormwater-related workdays, contact the Stormwater and Environmental Services Division.

Previous workdays have included work on:

• Installing and planting bioswales to manage stormwater drainage on Odie Street.
• Installing compost blankets at Cates Creek Park and Riverwalk to plant sloped areas and reduce erosion through layers of composted material.
• Installing a rain garden at Dorothy N. Johnson Community Center.

Straw for Dogs

Straw for Dogs is an annual event to provide clean straw to help keep outdoor dogs warm in residential areas. The straw is purchased with donations from the community, and police officers visit properties to offer the straw. To donate funds online, use the town’s payments and donations site. 

Toy Drive

Hillsborough police and Orange Rural firefighters collect donations of new, unwrapped toys in November and early December to distribute to children at the annual Winter Wonderland drive-through event. 

Donations may be made in several ways:

• Drop off toys during a vehicle viewing and toy drive event in late November or early December.
• Bring toys to the police or fire station during the toy drive.
• Shop online and opt for delivery to the police station during the drive.
• Donate funds online using the town’s payments and donations site. 

Other

Visit the News page to learn about any other needs that the Police Department has identified in the community and is working to address.

The Water Assistance Program provides short-term help to eligible customers in paying their water and sewer bills. It is funded through donations and administered by the local nonprofit Orange Congregations in Mission.

See the Water Assistance page for information on making one-time donations or adding a monthly donation to your water bill.