Annual LA River CleanUp Invites Residents to Protect Local Ecosystems

The Friends of the Los Angeles River will host its 34th Annual LA River CleanUp on October 5, inviting residents to help beautify the river, prevent litter from reaching the ocean, and promote equitable access to green spaces.

1 minute read

October 1, 2024, 10:00 AM PDT

By Clement Lau


Blue heron stands on rock in Los Angeles River with green reeds in background.

bbprince / Adobe Stock

The Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR) will hold its 34th Annual Great LA River CleanUp on October 5, inviting residents across Los Angeles County to help prevent litter from polluting the river and ocean. The event will take place at four locations, including Willow Street Bridge and Compton Creek, both of which support local ecosystems. Since 1989, FoLAR has removed over 1.6 million pounds of debris, contributing to environmental preservation and community engagement.

The cleanup is one of the largest environmental initiatives in the country and offers an opportunity for Angelenos to take part in hands-on environmental work. FoLAR CEO Candice Dickens-Russell emphasizes that the event goes beyond just cleanup and helps to foster community pride in the Los Angeles River. The nonprofit also advocates for climate change adaptation and equitable green spaces for the city's most vulnerable communities.

Volunteers are advised to bring reusable containers, wear suitable footwear, and be ready for a day of community-building and environmental action. Younger participants need waivers, and those under 15 years of age must be accompanied by a guardian.

Thursday, September 26, 2024 in Long Beach Press Telegram

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

Skyscrapers in Jersey City.

New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers

Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.

September 4, 2026 - The Cool Down

A New Jersey train approaches people waiting at the station.

Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds

A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.

September 15 - Mass Transit

A tall, gray power plant billows smoke into a blue sky.

EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants

Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.

September 15 - New York Times

A white RAPID bus. The lower half is light blue, and says RAPID in purple text. The bus is half visible, appearing from the left side of the image.

Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses

Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.

September 15 - KJZZ

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.