Concord, Find Your Local Coastal Cleanup Saturday

CONCORD, CA — Now that summer is nearing its end, it's time to say "thank you" to the many beautiful beaches, rivers and other waterways that have been serving us well all season. That's right, this September is Coastal Cleanup Month — and a statewide coastal cleanup day is about to get underway.

This Sept. 18, the shorelines of Contra Costa County's beaches and waterways will not only see the familiar beach towels, inflatables and fold-out chairs of visitors looking for a fun day in the sun — but also the efforts of countless residents picking up discarded trash.

According to the California Coastal Commission, in 2019 more than 74,000 volunteers picked up at least 900,000 pounds of litter from beaches and waterways throughout California.

The cleanups start around 9 a.m. but for Concord residents who can't make it to a local cleanup on Sept. 18, fear not — all Californians can participate in a self-guided neighborhood cleanup in their local park or community. According to the California Coastal Commission, all you need to do is download the CleanSwell app on your phone and clean on your own time throughout September.

Contra Costa County & East Bay Cleanups

The East Bay Regional Park District is holding its 37th Annual California Coastal Cleanup from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday at the following sites:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline
• Robert W Crown Regional Shoreline
• Pt. Isabel Regional Shoreline
• Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline
• Del Valle Regional Park
• Hayward Regional Shoreline

"Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are taking precautions to help keep all our volunteers and staff safe," the park district said. "This year, you can honor the spirit and intention of the cleanup by choosing what feels right to you. Whether you choose to do a self-guided neighborhood cleanup with your pod, or if you want to join staff on Sept. 18, you can make a difference for our shorelines."

For registration information, follow this link.

Follow this link to register for a self-guided cleanup event.

Here's a map of cleanups in the Bay Area and beyond: