The Great River Clean-Up

Each year, San Diego River Park Foundation volunteers remove more than 200,000 pounds of trash from our River. Without our amazing volunteers, this trash would be left to pollute native animal habitats, create unsightly piles in our parks and public spaces, leach contaminants into the water, and could be washed out into our ocean and beaches! This event is a crucial event as it’s our final attempt to remove trash from the river before rainy season begins. This effort is vital to prevent the debris from reaching and polluting our oceans. We need all the help we can get! As we like to say, many hands make light work.

This particular clean-up is a joint event with our kayak clean-up! There will be kayakers out on the water (a unique experience) helping clean-up the river at the same time as our shore volunteers. This is usually not permitted in this protected area, but we have received special permission!

Are you looking to learn more or sign up for the kayak portion of the clean-up? Click here to learn more about the kayak clean-up and/or sign up!

Please note: Signing up on this page will sign you up for the shore clean-up only – NOT the kayak portion of the event.

Park & Meet: The meeting location is NEAR the address listed. The exact meeting location will be at Tesla charging stations in Fashion Valley Mall. Please park in the empty spots just south of the chargers. Address for the mall is 7007 Friars Rd, San Diego, CA 92108. Drive to the Southeast side of the mall parking lot just before Hazard Center Drive. Park in the uncovered parking lot on the corner of Avenida del Rio and Hazard Center Dr.

Meet Location Map Links:

• Google: Tesla Charging Station Location
• Apple: Tesla Charging Station Location

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the event:

• Check-In: 8:45 AM
• Attire: Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required
• All tools and supplies will be provided
• Items to Bring: Reusable water bottle, hat, other forms of sun protection
• Weather: Light rain will not cancel the event
• For safety reasons, no pets are allowed at this event
• Community Service hours can be verified for those who need them.
• All ages!
• If you would like to sign up as a group, please email us at volunteer@sandiegoriver.org, or have each member of your group sign up individually.