Join the Fun: Volunteers Sought for Santa Cruz River Block Party Clean-Up!

Community members are encouraged to participate in a cleanup initiative at Tucson’s Verdugo Park this Saturday. The event, titled “Santa Cruz Watershed Day of Connection,” aims to promote both volunteerism and environmental awareness.

Luke Cole, director of the Sonoran Institute’s Santa Cruz River Program, emphasized the significance of the day, stating, “It’s right there in the name. This is a day of connection. Everybody is welcome.” Volunteers will focus on removing trash from the river, contributing to a larger beautification effort.

This block party-style gathering is co-hosted by the Sonoran Institute, Tucson Water, and Tucson Clean & Beautiful. Attendees can expect music from DJ Halsero and food options from local food trucks, including Ensenada Street Food and ViriViri BombBomb.

Participants will receive visibility vests, gloves, a trash picker, and bags for collecting debris. As volunteers work, undergraduates from the University of Arizona will conduct a study before and after the cleanup to assess the extent of trash in the river. Their findings will include weighing each bag of trash collected.

The goal is ambitious: to remove around 2,000 pounds of waste from the Santa Cruz River near downtown Tucson. Cole remarked, “This is a study that we’ve been conducting to really understand how extensive the trash problem is in the Santa Cruz River.”

Additionally, the event will feature a mud ball-making activity aimed at promoting native vegetation. Cole explained, “We’re going to be making seed bombs or seed balls where we take rich soil and mix in native seeds to create donut-hole sized mud balls.” These will be dried and tossed into the river to support local ecosystems.

The activity will be facilitated by science educators from the Ironwood Tree Experience, a nonprofit focused on environmental education for youth. Tucson Clean & Beautiful advises participants to wear closed-toed shoes and to bring a hat, sunscreen, and a refillable water bottle to minimize plastic waste. Necessary supplies, along with filtered water, will be provided at the event.

Registration is available online, but walk-ups are welcome. “No one will be turned away,” Cole confirmed. The Santa Cruz Watershed Day of Connection is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to noon at Verdugo Park, located at 902 S. Verdugo Ave.