Stream & Park Cleanups

  • Volunteers removed 33,038 pounds of trash from parks and streams.

    Volunteers removed 33,038 pounds of trash from parks and streams.

  • Thank you, Stream Strider Volunteer Leaders!

    Thank you, Stream Strider Volunteer Leaders!

  • How long until this litter is gone?

    How long until this litter is gone?

    Plastic water bottles can last 450 years.

Welcome to the Stream & Park Cleanups Page

No matter where you are in Montgomery County, you are part of a watershed. A watershed is an area of land that drains to a creek, stream, river, and ocean. Trash and litter found in Montgomery Parks can find their way to the Potomac, Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. Volunteers help protect our local environment, wildlife, watersheds, and the oceans from litter pollution! Help by becoming a volunteer.

You Can Organize a Group Cleanup volunteers at trash cleanup

Scout troops, corporate groups, student groups, and community organizations can schedule a group cleanup day at a park or stream year-round! Cleanups are open to all ages, but group leaders must be 18+ to register.

  1. Register your group here (we ask for a two week’s notice)
  2. We will send you a Group Leaders info packet
  3. Confirm your cleanup details and pick up your cleanup kit
  4. Have a fun, safe cleanup
  5. Send us your Sign-in sheet and the Cleanup Results

Cleanups for Individual Volunteers parks background, young volunteer holding trash bags and litter grabber, text reads individuals or families

Individuals and families can join a cleanup hosted by Montgomery Parks staff or volunteer leaders.

Click here to register for the next cleanup.

Please note:

  • If a cleanup is not listed, the event is full.
  • New volunteers must create a volunteer/family volunteer account (takes about 5 minutes)

Featured Cleanups

The Potomac Conservancy is hosting several cleanups in Montgomery Parks this season!

All cleanups are from 9-11 am.

Click on the links below to sign up!

For questions contact: community@potomac.org.

8/20 – Glenmont Local Park

9/10 – Northgate Local Park

Celebrating National Public Lands Day!

9/24 – Glenfield Local Park  

9/24 – Glenmont Local Park

Potomac conservancy logo

Find a Watershed Group near you

Map, Montgomery county watershed organizations

Looking for more ways to get involved? Several local watershed organizations host cleanups, restoration projects, and events in Montgomery County.

Watershed Groups in Montgomery County:

Watershed/Nature Organizations in the DC area:

Storm Drain Mural Projects

Congratulations to Pamela G., Tarah C. and Saatchi B. — winners of the 2021 Clean Waterways Art Contest! Check out their designs here.

volunteers at a park raising hands and standing over a storm drain mural. the mural has images of the ocean featuring an octopus, ruby, holding litter items at each arm.

Ruby’s Quest by Pamela, Long Branch SVP

artists paintings a mural on a storm drain that says keep Maryland beautiful

Keep Maryland Beautiful by Tarah, Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Park

storm drain mural and artist, preserve natural habitats, patterns and animals surrounding the message

Preserve Natural Habitats by Saatchi, Rock Creek Stream Valley Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illegal Dumping in Parks

Have you spotted illegal dumping in parks?

  1. Leave the trash
  2. Note the exact location and park name
  3. Call the Park Police at 301-949-8010 to report

Dumping of trash bags, furniture, tires, car parts, etc. often occur at parks and they affect our communities and environment. Contacting Park Police is the best way to address the problem quickly.

Questions?

Valeria Espinoza
Watershed Cleanups Volunteer Program Coordinator
volunteercleanups@montgomeryparks.org

Last Updated: September 23, 2022