HERCULES – At its Jan. 23 meeting, the Hercules City Council passed a 5-0 motion to establish a new volunteer “Team Up to Clean Up” pilot program for City beautification. This exciting new initiative aims to enhance community safety and cleanliness through a series of monthly volunteer cleanup days held in different locations in Hercules.
“We are thrilled to launch this pilot program that will unite our dedicated community members around the mission of making Hercules an even more beautiful place to live, work and play,” said Hercules City Councilmember Tiffany M. Grimsley. “I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and joining this collaborative effort to improve the Hercules environment and bring our community together.”
In December 2023, the City Council approved Councilmember Grimsley’s request to ask staff to develop a community cleanup pilot program. In recent months, the City has been building a list of volunteers who are passionate about keeping the community beautiful. This core group will serve as the foundation for the six-month pilot program.
Keeping Hercules free of unsightly waste will enhance the safety and aesthetic quality of the community by eliminating litter from streets, storm drains, parks and the natural environment. In authorizing the pilot program, the City Council also allocated $1,500 from the General Fund to cover program expenses, such as trash bags, gloves, safety vests, tools and giveaways over the duration of the program.
During the clean-up events, volunteers will receive safety vests, trash bags and tools, accompanied by a safety briefing upon check-in. Participants are encouraged to bring their own gloves (disposable gloves will be available at check-in). Volunteers will then collect litter from pre-selected locations and leave filled trash bags and their clean-up tools at the check-in location for City staff to pick up. In exchange for their volunteerism, each participant will receive a small giveaway to express our appreciation.
During the Jan. 23 City Council meeting, Mayor Dan Romero also proposed extending an invitation to Hercules High School’s Environmental Club for future participation, further evidencing how the program can provide opportunities for community collaboration in the interest of keeping Hercules beautiful. After six months, the program will undergo review to evaluate its effectiveness, sustainability and potential continuation.
The first clean-up event will take place on Saturday, March 2 at Refugio Valley Park. Residents can register to volunteer here. We look forward to maintaining the beauty and environmental health of Hercules with the support of our community volunteers!
Note — upcoming dates:
- March 2
- April 6
- May 4
- June 1
- July 6
- Aug 3
