Citywide Spring Cleanup

The Saint Paul Parks & Recreation and Public Works teams are hosting the 36th annual Citywide Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 23rd, rain or shine! In the case of severe weather a cancellation announcement will be made.

Individuals and groups of all ages come together to pick up litter that has recently become exposed due to the melting snow. Join forces with your neighbors to clean up our parks and neighborhood streets.

Help us spread the word by sharing our Citywide Spring Cleanup Event on Facebook!

PLEASE NOTE: This event does not collect household items. For more information on how to dispose of household items, please refer to the Citywide Drop-off Event Page.

Choose a kickoff site near you to check in and grab supplies. Check out the list of Cleanup Locations below to find your neighborhood kickoff site. You can also view them on a map via the link below.

Map of Sites

Thank you to our site hosts, including the City of Saint Paul - Government and Saint Paul Public Works!

Arlington Hills Community Center	Hosted by Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary/Wakan Tipi	Hosted by Lower Phalen Creek Project
Central Village Park	Hosted by Summit-University Planning Council and Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation
Como Lakeside Pavilion	Hosted by District 10 Como Community Council and Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Conway Park	Hosted by Southeast Community Organization, The Sanneh Foundation and Saint Paul Public Library
Frogtown Park and Farm	Hosted by Frogtown Green
Harriet Island/Kelley's Landing	Hosted by Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa
Highland Picnic Pavilion	Hosted by College Nannies, Sitters and Tutors St. Paul, MN and Highland District Council
Indian Mounds Regional Park	Hosted by Mississippi Park Connection, National Park Service and Lower Phalen Creek Project
Mears Park	Hosted by FirstService Residential
Midway Peace Park	Hosted by Lexington-Hamline Community Council
Parque de Castillo	Hosted by West Side Community Organization (WSCO)
Phalen Picnic Pavilion	Hosted by Friends of St. Paul-Changsha Friendship Garden at Phalen Park and Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Ramsey Middle School	Hosted by Macalester-Groveland Community Council
Raymond and Territorial Road	Hosted by Creative Enterprise Zone and St. Anthony Park Community Council
Rice St and Larpenteur Ave	Hosted by Let's Revitalize Rice & Larpenteur!
Swede Hollow Park	Hosted by Urban Roots
Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary	Hosted by North End Neighborhood Council
Upper Landing	Hosted by the Friends of Upper Landing
West Minnehaha Rec Center	Hosted by Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Western Sculpture Park	Hosted by Summit-University Planning Council and Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation

Participating is easy! Register online, then stop by your local kickoff site any time between 9am-11:30am on April 23 to check in and pick up bags and gloves. Then, head out to collect litter at your park or neighborhood of choice.

Register Here

Full bags of litter can be deposited in or next to any City of Saint Paul Parks garbage can. You can also drop full bags at one of the many drop-sites around the city. Please deposit bags at drop-sites by noon. Check out the map below for a list of kickoff sites and drop sites.

Map of Drop Sites

COVID-19 Precautions:

Vaccination is a vital tool to protect ourselves, our families, and our community from COVID-19. While vaccination is not required to attend this event, the City of Saint Paul strongly encourages all eligible participants to be fully vaccinated prior to attending.

More Litter Collection Opportunities

Keep up the momentum! Join in on some great litter-collection programs happening both locally and nationally!

Participate in an important community science project!

In Saint Paul, our storm drains flow into the Mississippi River, bringing trash and pollution from our streets along for the ride. As the headwater state, we have a responsibility to keep the river clean for all communities downstream of us. During the Citywide Spring Cleanup, and anytime you pick up trash in the future, using the Marine Debris Tracker will help contribute to science and to the health of the Mississippi River. Select the MRCTI tab to make sure your information makes it to the right place.

Community volunteers of any experience level can help track litter to help scientists, policy-makers, businesses, and community members take informed action. Data that you collect in your neighborhood will be part of the national Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative, the first data snapshot to combat plastic pollution along one of the world’s greatest waterways. (NOTE: Be sure to select the “MRCTI” tab when you open the app for the first time so your data is included in the initiative)
The Come Clean program offers multiple ways to get involved. You supply the time, energy and enthusiasm and we will supply the trash bags, gloves and many thanks. Businesses and individuals who Adopt-a-Block can request a window cling or lawn sign in recognition of their efforts.

One-time Litter Cleanup: 
- Choose an area to collect litter, such as a sidewalk, boulevard, park, or other area that is important to you.
- Collect litter along or with a group.
- Place bagged litter in your own trash container. If disposal at home is not possible, you may request a pick-up of collected materials. 
Apply for a One-Time Litter Cleanup

Adopt-a-Block:
- Agree to clean up litter on a block for a minimum of two (2) years.
- Clean the block a minimum of 4 times per year.
- Adopt all four (4) sides of the block, including the alley if there is one.
- Clean the public sidewalks, curbs, boulevards, and storm drains, corner-to-corner including the alley.
  
  Clean up at storm drains may include removing litter and leaves/organic material.
- Place bagged litter in your own trash container and organic debris in a backyard compost bin or deliver to a Ramsey County yard waste site.
- If disposal at home or delivery to the yard waste site is prohibitive, you may request a pick-up of materials.
Apply to Adopt-a-Block

Adopt-a-Container:
- The City will provide a trash container on a corner where litter volume is high.
- Agree to maintain the container for a minimum of two (2) years.
- Supply and maintain plastic bags in the containers at all times and keep the surrounding area clear of litter and other refuse.
- Remove the filled bags and dispose of them in their own refuse container/dumpster.
- Notify the Come Clean coordinator if the container suffers from graffiti or other damage.
Apply to Adopt-a-Container