Cleaning & Collection / Trail Clearing & Maintenance
Collecting trash is the first step towards building a community that cares for and maintains their public spaces.
There are several ways to take initiative in cleaning up your local park or public space beyond calling 311. There may be a neighborhood or community group in your area already planning a clean up and volunteer day.
Check out this comprehensive list of Parks Alliance Community Partners, many of whom have regular and recurring clean-up days. There may be a clean up day coming up near you! You can also check the Parks Alliance calendar where clean up days are regularly published.
City-Wide Clean-Up Organizations
Clean Up Day
If you’d like to organize your own clean up day, you’ll need to contact your neighbors and rally some folks to help out and then reach out to one of the following people (depending on the property):
Property Owner
Contact
Department of Public Works Property (Sidewalks, street parks, staircases, etc.)
Email: recparkpartnerships@sfgov.org
They can provide and pick up tools (rakes, shovels, pickers, loppers, etc.). In the email, describe the event, date, time, and exact location. Be specific in what and how many tools you will need. Email at least 3 weeks before the event.
SF Recreation & Park Department Property (Parks)
Email: Steve Shih and Kelly Cornell
They both work for the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. Shih in the Structural Maintenance Yard and Cornell in the division of Urban Forestry.
Trail Clearing & Maintenance
Trail clearing and maintenance are more involved forms of greening and landscaping. The work often involves more capital, as well as coordination and participation potentially with a landscaper and gardener, as well as with the property owner. If you want to join a group currently working on trail clearing and maintenance, check out the following SF Parks Alliance Community Partners:
Sutro Stewards
Trail maintenance on Mt. Sutro. Sutro also offers train maintenance workshops.
Friends of Oak Woodlands
Some trail maintenance, and native habitat restoration in the Oak Woodlands of Golden Gate Park
Glen Park Greenway
Building a green corridor that runs through the heart of the Glen Park neighborhood, connecting Glen Park’s transit hub and urban village to Glen Canyon Park.
