Did you know that Richmond has 32 miles of shoreline, the most out of any other city in the Bay Area? Join The Watershed Project and Supervisor John Gioia’s office for the 31^st Annual Coastal Cleanup Day to clean up this beautiful part of the city. This is the largest volunteer event on the planet, drawing more than 70,000 community members across the state of California each year. 

On September 19, 2015, hundreds of volunteers will meet at Shimada Friendship Park from 9 AM – 12 PM and walk the Bay Trail to pick up trash from the shoreline and salt marsh. Come spend the day with your friends and family protecting our Bay! There is a small beach area for your little ones to explore, miles of trail to walk, and a celebration complete with a free, healthy, catered lunch following the clean-up hosted by Supervisor John Gioia. 

The amount of trash ending up in the ocean is a growing problem, not only impacting the beauty of our waterways, but also harming wildlife. It is estimated that over 60% of all seabirds today have plastic in their stomachs. Last year, volunteers statewide picked up over 1 million pounds of trash, 104,000 pounds of recyclables, preventing 595 tons of debris from entering our waterways. When we all come together, we can make a huge difference over the course of just 3 hours! 

The Watershed Project asks volunteers to wear closed-toed shoes that can get dirty, bring a water bottle to stay hydrated, and be sure to use sun protection such as a hat and sunscreen. Buckets, trash bags, and gloves will be provided, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own if possible. 

Volunteers will have the opportunity to tally their findings as they clean. The data will be sent to the Ocean Conservancy, which will be used to determine the most commonly found items globally. This can help influence policy change to make long-lasting impacts for the health of marine environments. We will also hold a contest for the Most Unusual Item, complete with prizes for the winner. Past unusual items have included a toy mouse, a set of dentures, and even an anonymous love note inside of a glass bottle. 

Sponsors for this event include Wareham Development, Mechanics Bank, Kaiser Permanente, Tradewinds Sailing Club, Rubios, Contra Costa Public Works, and the California Coastal Commission. 

Shimada Friendship Park is located at the end of Marina Bay Parkway near the intersection of Peninsula Drive. For more details, click here. For any questions, please email [email protected] or call (510) 665-3430. 

See you at the Richmond Shoreline! 

By: Liza Dadiomov