Cleanups To Date

Join Pitch In, Waste Free Santa Cruz and others...
Take the Plastic Free July Pledge

Start by bringing your own cup! Avoid Plastic Bottles, Stop using plastic food wrap.

Click Here for More Information

Mark your Calendar for May 9th, 2026 for the Third Annual Pitch In All County Cleanup Day. Working together We Can Make Santa Cruz the Cleanest County in the State.

Opportunities to participate will be updated here on a regular basis.

Upcoming Cleanups

  • “Dirtiest Beach Day” — July 5th Cleanup
    The day after the Fourth of July has earned the nickname “the dirtiest beach day of the year”. Join Surfrider Volunteers!
    • Date: Saturday, July 5th
    • Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
    • Location: Main Beach (near the volleyball courts)
    • Click here to sign up now
  • Join Save Our Shores cleanups
    • Holiday Cleanup @ Cowell & Main Beach (July 5 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      Cowell Beach 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA
      • Registration is required
      • Meet Up Location: Please meet us at the base of the stairs to Cowell Beach.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: Restrooms and drinking fountains are available onsite. Metered parking is limited, so please plan accordingly.
    • Holiday Cleanup @ Corcoran Lagoon Beach (July 5 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      Corcoran Lagoon Beach 20th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
      • Registration is required
      • Meet Up Location: Please meet us at the end of 20th Ave near the top of the stairs to the beach.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There are no restrooms available, and no drinking fountains on site. Parking is limited, so please plan accordingly. Please note this location is not wheelchair accessible, there are stairs and large rocks down to the beach.
  • Join Coastal Watershed Council!
    • River Health Day (July 12 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm)
      Generally, we will meet on the east riverbank between the Laurel Street bridge and the Branciforte Creek pedestrian bridge. Sometimes we will meet near Mike Fox Skate Park. Free parking is available in the CWC parking lot at 107 Dakota Ave. Paid parking is also available on Dakota Avenue or across the river in downtown Santa Cruz. The closest parking garage is at 601 Front Street. Please RSVP below to receive up-to-date location information. Call (831) 464 9200 x104, or email CWC River Ecologist Kaiya Giuliano-Monroy with any questions before the event. RSVP for this and other River Health Day events!
    • San Lorenzo Park Neighbors (September 13 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm)
      Meet at the duck pond at 10:30 am to join in!
      Join the San Lorenzo Park Neighbors and the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department for a morning of volunteer service to beautify San Lorenzo Park, followed by a concert! Make a difference by picking up trash in the park, and help with special projects that may include painting, sanding benches, planting, weeding, raking, and or pruning. Tools will be provided for volunteers, as well as water and coffee. Meet at the duck pond at 10:30 am to join in! Email us with questions at sanlorenzoparkneighbors@gmail.com.
  • Join Grant Park Neighbors for community cleanups and fun!
    • Saturday, August 23, 2025
    • Saturday, September 20, 2025
    • Saturday, October 11, 2025
    • For more information, please visit grantparkneighbors.org

Cleanups Accomplished

Paulsen Road Cleanup

March 28, 2024

On March 28th in the early morning drizzle, Supervisor Hernandez’ Office led by Chief of Staff Ramon Gomez, along with Santa Cruz County Community Development and Infrastructure Department, City of Watsonville, Watsonville Works and numerous volunteers joined together to cleanup up Paulsen Road in Watsonville. 

Paulsen Road is beautiful area, with important agricultural land, Casserly Creek, and home to numerous birds and other wildlife.  It is constantly being “trashed” by illegal dumping. And it needs to stop!

As the sun returned to a brilliant blue sky, volunteers collected volumes of trash, dumped carpet, sofas, furniture, tires and other debris. Over 2 and ½ County truckloads of illegal dumping were removed from the area.  A special shout out and Thank you to Ramon Gomez for organizing this cleanup and to volunteers Eileen, Maria, Clark, Nayeli and Susan for participating.

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