Month: August 2026

San Diego’s largest county-wide cleanup effort is right around the corner, and there are around 100 sites to choose from. 

Whether you’re flying solo, working with little ones or searching for an accessible site, there is a Coastal Cleanup Day option for you. 

 

Family-Friendly Sites 

• Carlsbad – South Ponto State Beach 

• Carlsbad – Carlsbad Village 

• Chula Vista – Marina View Park 

• Chula Vista County Park 

• Chula Vista – Otay Lakes County Park 

• Coronado – Silver Strand Beach 

• Del Mar – Dog Beach 

• Del Mar – San Dieguito Lagoon 

• Encinitas – Community Park 

• Encinitas – Cottonwood Creek Park 

• Fallbrook – Live Oak County Park 

• Imperial Beach – YMCA Camp Surf 

• La Jolla – Ellen Browning Scripps Park 

• La Jolla – Windansea Beach 

• Mission Bay – Bonita Cove 

• Mission Bay – Belmont Park 

• Mission Bay – Playa II 

• Mission Beach – South Mission Beach 

• National City – Pepper Park 

• Oceanside – Buccaneer Beach Park 

• Pacific Beach – Tourmaline Surf Park 

• Solana Beach – San Elijo Lagoon County Park 

• Southcrest – Southcrest Mountain View Park 

• Spring Valley – Spring Valley County Park 

 

Spanish Speakers on Site 

• Bonita – Sweetwater Community Garden 

• Carlsbad – Quarry Creek (El Salto Falls) 

• Chula Vista – Broadway Marsh 

• Chula Vista – Marina View Park 

• City Heights – University Avenue Street Sweep 

• Del Mar – San Dieguito Lagoon 

• Escondido – Dixon Lake 

• Mission Bay – Gleason Road Street Sweep 

• Otay Mesa – Otay Valley Regional Park 

• Rainbow – Rainbow County Park 

• Ramona – Walnut Street Street Sweep 

• Solana Beach – Shopping Center Creek Sweep 

• Southcrest – Mountain View Park 

 

Accessible by Public Transit 

• Azalea Park – Poplar Street Sweep 

• Balboa Park – Redwood Circle Trail 

• Barrio Logan – Port Park/Cesear Chavez 

• Carlsbad – South Ponto State Beach 

• Casa de Oro – Campo Road Street Sweep 

• Chula Vista – Broadway Marsh 

• Chula Vista – Main Street Sweep 

• Chula Vista – Salt Mine Street Sweep 

• City Heights – Cooper Canyon 

• City Heights – Northeast Swan Canyon 

• City Heights – University Avenue Street Sweep 

• College West – Montezuma Road Street Sweep 

• Del Mar – Dog Beach 

• Del Mar – San Dieguito Lagoon 

• Downtown – Embarcadero Marina Park 

• Downtown – Ruocco Park & Tuna Harbor Park 

• El Cajon – Graves Avenue Street Sweep 

• Encinitas – Community Park 

• Encinitas – Cottonwood Creek Park 

• Encinitas – Highway 101 Street Sweep 

• Escondido – Harmony Grove Creek 

• Golden Hill – G Street Sweep 

• Hillcrest – Pride Square Street Sweep 

• Imperial Beach – YMCA Camp Surf 

• La Jolla – Children’s Pool 

• La Jolla – Windansea Beach 

• La Mesa – La Alvarado Avenue Street Sweep 

• La Mesa – Lake Murray 

• Lakeside – Vine Street 

• Mission Bay – Belmont Park 

• Mission Bay – Bonita Cove 

• Mission Bay – Gleason Road Street Sweep 

• Mission Bay – Playa II 

• Mission Valley – San Diego River 

• North Park – North Park Sweep 

• Oceanside – Buccaneer Beach Park 

• Oceanside – Quarry Creek (College Blvd) 

• Pacific Beach – Tourmaline Surf Park 

• Point Loma – Famosa Slough 

• Point Loma – Southwestern Yacht Club 

• Ramona – Main Street Sweep 

• Ramona – Walnut Street Street Sweep 

• San Marcos – West San Marcos Blvd Street Sweep 

• Santee – Mission Trails Regional Park 

• Serra Mesa – Library Canyon 

• Solana Beach – Fletcher Cove 

• Solana Beach – Shopping Center Creek Sweep 

• Southcrest – Mountain View Park 

• Southcrest – Southcrest Recreation Center Park 

• Spring Valley – Spring Valley County Park 

 

Wheelchair Accessible 

• Carlsbad – Carlsbad Village 

• Allied Gardens – Rancho Mission Canyon  

These are the sites we have confirmed are wheelchair accessible. Help us grow the list! If you know that one of our sites is wheelchair accessible, please email cleanupday@cleansd.org. 

 

Looking for a Challenge? These high-need locations require extra elbow grease. 

• Carlsbad – Quarry Creek (El Salto Falls) 

• Chula Vista – Boardway Marsh 

• Chula Vista – Main Street Sweep 

• Chula Vista – Marina View Park 

• Chula Vista – Salt Mine Street Sweep 

• City Heights – Cooper Canyon 

• City Heights – Northeast Swan Canyon 

• Escondido – Harmony Grove Creek 

• Fallbrook – De Luz 

• Golden Hill – South Juniper Canyon 

• Julian – Volcan Mountain 

• Linda Vista – Tecolote Canyon 

• Mission Bay – Lower Rose Creek Mission Bay High School 

• Mission Valley – San Diego River 

• Oak Park – Chollas Lake 

• Oceanside – Quarry Creek (College Blvd) *steep terrain 

• Southcrest – Southcrest Recreation Center Park 

• Vista – Buena Vista Creek Trail 

 

To sign up for a site, visit cleanupday.org. 

Our collective effort stops thousands of pounds of litter from harming the places we love. Thank you for joining us on a powerful day of action! 

 

 

Our coastline has nearly eight times more litter per mile than our roadways and waterways. As the weather heats up and San Diegans hit the beach, we can all do our part to protect our shoreline.  

Here are three sustainability tips for your next beach trip.  

 

1. Practice a plastic-free beach day   

One of the most effective ways to reduce marine debris and litter is by challenging yourself to a plastic-free beach trip. This starts with sourcing and packing reusable water bottles, reusable utensils, and containers. Investing in a reusable water bottle may seem small, but small actions add up.  

The average stainless steel water bottle lasts up to 12 years. In one year, your reusable bottle can save over 156 plastic bottles from being used.     

On top of protecting our environment, your reusable water bottle is cool. Make it uniquely yours by adding your favorite stickers and a metal or bamboo straw.  

The same goes for picnicking on the beach.   

Plastic forks and baggies break down into tiny pieces called microplastics. While they are almost invisible, they contain toxic chemicals found in our water, food, and air.  

Trading your sandwich baggy for a reusable one and ditching single-use plastic utensils stops microplastics at the source. Opt for a reusable travel utensil set as your go-to for beach days.  

  

1. Leave no trace  

Anything left behind is likely to make its way into the water. Before you leave, make sure to dispose of all your waste in the correct bins.   

• Recycle: Hard plastics like bottles and cans, paper, cardboard and cartons   

• Trash: Wrappers, cigarette butts, and bendable plastics like straws, forks, and knives  

• Compost: Food scraps like fruit peels   

While the beach may not have green organic waste bins, you can bring a to-go container to throw your food scraps and soiled paper in your green bin at home.   

If the beach doesn’t have any waste bins, make sure to pack everything out and dispose of it properly at home.   

Once you’ve scanned your area and it’s clear, you’re good to go. Extra good Samaritan points for picking up litter that does not belong to you.  

  

1. Repair and reuse 

When your beach gear starts to weather, it may be tempting to throw them in the trash.   

But don’t! You have options to keep old gear out of the landfill.   

To repair old wetsuits, surfboards or paddleboards, visit wastefreesd.org. Put in your zip code and choose the repair dropdown. You’ll be directed to repair shops near you.  

If your gear is beyond repair, you can find disposal sites for these items, plus plastic toys and fishing lines, on wastefreesd.org.  

Looking for new beach chairs, umbrellas, or coolers? Instead of buying them new, you can support a circular economy by checking out your local thrift store.  

  

Your Contribution to a Cleaner Coast  

San Diego is a coastal paradise that we are lucky to call home.   

Next time you head to the beach, pick one of these tips to try. When you practice these habits, you advocate for the beaches we all share and love.