The City of Chula Vista will hold the 21st Annual Beautify Chula Vista cleanup day on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and volunteers are once again needed.

This long-running community event has had an extensive positive impact on the City of Chula Vista, thanks to the work of volunteers who each year remove litter and debris, and paint graffiti. In 2023, more than 400 volunteers came out to help, and the City aims to match that turnout again this year.

“Beautify Chula Vista displays the extraordinary community service spirit that makes Chula Vista such a fantastic place to live,” said Mayor John McCann. “I’m looking forward to working with our citizens to help clean up our neighborhoods.”

The event is a partnership between the South Bay Sustainable Communities Network and the City’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Division. Also participating this year is Republic Services, which is providing a Building Strong Neighborhoods grant.

Volunteers can choose from two main meeting locations:

• Memorial Bowl at Memorial Park, 373 Park Way
• Otay Community Center, 3554 Main St.

In addition to picking up trash and cleaning up graffiti, volunteers can plant native trees and plants in Rice Canyon, with Memorial Bowl at Memorial Park as the meeting location.

Volunteers are asked to register on the event website. At the start of the day, all participants will receive project sheets, listen to a safety talk, receive snacks and head out to their project site. Some are within walking distance and others require a drive. Many of the work sites have been suggested by the community or through the ACT Chula Vista app.

Volunteers must provide their own transportation and are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing and shoes, and bring work gloves, refillable water bottles and any additional snacks. Volunteers who are age 15 and a half or younger must be accompanied by an adult and will take part in age-appropriate activities.