Beach & Riverside Cleanup In Portland: Volunteers Take Action Across The City (Photo) - 09/11/26
Portland, Ore., September 11, 2026 – SOLVE’s annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup is bringing volunteers together across Oregon and Southwest Washington from September 18–27, with communities throughout Portland taking action to clean up local streets, parks, neighborhoods and the Willamette River.
From business partners in the NW Industrial District to community groups caring for school grounds and neighborhood parks, Portland’s cleanup events offer a range of ways to make a visible difference. Several events will also focus directly on the Willamette River and its shoreline, helping remove litter before it reaches the water and improving access to well-loved riverfront spaces.
Featured Beach & Riverside Cleanup Events in Portland:
NW Industrial Business Partner Cleanups Morning Project | Afternoon Project
NW Industrial District | September 18
Businesses, neighbors and community partners will come together to clean up the East, West and North zones of the NW Industrial District. Two cleanup times are available: 10 am–12 pm and 4–5:30 pm, making it easy to fit community action into the workday.
Peninsula Community Care Day
Peninsula Elementary School | September 19, 9:30 – 11 am
Peninsula PTA and community volunteers will remove invasive and overgrown vegetation around the school campus, particularly near the playground, while also cleaning up litter and helping maintain a safe, welcoming schoolyard.
Beach & Riverside Cleanup at OMSI
Eastbank Esplanade | September 19, 10 am – 12 pm
Volunteers will gather at OMSI before dispersing along the Eastbank Esplanade and surrounding streets to remove litter and help keep trash from reaching the Willamette River.
Southeast Cleanup at Powell Park
Powell Park | September 23, 10 am – 12 pm
Volunteers will clean up Powell Park and surrounding streets, helping care for a neighborhood gathering space while building community through local action.
Peace Memorial Park & Eastbank Esplanade Cleanup
Lloyd District | September 24, 10 am – 12 pm
Lloyd EcoDistrict will lead a cleanup spanning Peace Memorial Park, the northern Eastbank Esplanade, Duckworth Dock, and the Moda Center and Convention Center area, with volunteers removing litter and helping spruce up the park and address graffiti.
Duckworth Dock Beach Cleanup with PacifiCorp
Duckworth Dock | September 25, 12 – 1:30 pm
Human Access Project, in partnership with PacifiCorp, will lead a large-scale cleanup of the riverbank at Duckworth Dock. Volunteers will remove trash, rocks and concrete debris and clear vegetation to improve access to the popular swimming spot.
St. Johns Neighborhood Cleanup
St. Johns | September 26, 9 – 10:30 am
The St. Johns Neighborhood Association will bring community members together for a family-friendly neighborhood cleanup, with volunteers of all ages invited to help care for local streets and public spaces.
Trashy Hour Kenton Neighborhood Cleanup at Mayfly
Kenton | September 27, 11 am – 12 pm
The monthly Kenton neighborhood cleanup will bring volunteers together to remove litter from the community, with SOLVE providing cleanup supplies. Volunteers can stick around afterward as Mayfly opens at noon.
How to Get Involved
- Volunteer: Browse local Beach & Riverside Cleanup events and register yourself or a group at volunteer.solve.org/beach-riverside
- Bring your community: Invite friends, family, coworkers or neighbors to take part in a local cleanup or restoration project.
SOLVE’s 2026 Beach & Riverside Cleanup is proudly supported by Clean Water Services, Kaiser Permanente, Knife River, Keep America Beautiful, Metro, National Recreation and Park Association, Oregon State Park & Recreation, Owens Corning, Portco Packaging, Tillamook, Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc., and KOIN.
For more information or to register, visit solve.org/beach-riverside
About SOLVE
SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solve.org for more information or follow SOLVEPNW on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.
