The City of Jacksonville’s Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Commission invites residents to join one of the world’s largest water protection efforts by contributing to the 2021 International Coastal Cleanup. 

On Saturday, Sept. 18, volunteers can visit various locations in the city to remove trash and debris from beaches, lakes and rivers; start and end times vary by location. Event leaders will be available at each site to register volunteers and provide materials, including bags and gloves. Advance registration is not required.

This event provides an opportunity for students to satisfy community service requirements. Participants must be over 18 or accompanied by an adult. Service hours certificates will be available from site captains. 

Each year, hundreds of thousands of volunteers around the world participate in the event, keeping track of every item found to be included in the Ocean Conservancy’s yearly snapshot of marine debris. Locally, in 2020, 8,220 pounds, or 4.11 tons of debris was collected by 617 volunteers who donated 1,102 hours of their time. The value of that volunteer time amounted to $31,451, based on the hourly volunteer estimates by Independent.

Site locations and times* are as follows:  

8 - 10 a.m. Oceanfront locations: 

Atlantic Boulevard 

At the ocean 

Seagate Avenue & 20th Avenue N. 

At the ocean 

Beach Boulevard

At the ocean

9 - 11 a.m. All other locations: 

Blue Cypress Park 

4012 University Boulevard N. 

Boone Park 

3700 Park St. 

North Entrance: Van Wert Ave. & Valencia Rd.

South Entrance: Riverside Ave. at Van Wert St.

Burnett Park 

3740 Burnett Park Rd.

Castaway Island Preserve 

2921 San Pablo Rd. S. 

Hollybrook Park 

319 Cherokee St. 

Jim King Park & Boat Ramp

8203 Heckscher Dr.

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.)

500 Wonderwood Dr.

Klutho Park

204 W. 3^rd St.

Lonne Wurn Boat Ramp

4131 Ferber Rd.

McCue Park and Boat Ramp

2510 Second Ave.

Murray Hill

4208 Kingsbury St. 

Oceanway Community Center

12215 Sago Ave.

Reddie Point Preserve

4499 Yachtsman Way

Riverside Park

753 Park St.

Sun Ray Cinema

1028 Park St.

Riverview Community Center

9620 W. Water St.

T.K. Stokes Boat Ramp

2120 Riverview St.

Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park

7000 Roosevelt Blvd.

Walter Jones Historical Park

11964 Mandarin Rd.