Community Cleanup at Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy

We had a great showing of support on June 22 as we worked to cleanup the park for the community!

CLCA San Diego Chapter’s team of contractor and associate members participated in a community service project on June 22, 2024. The location was an overgrown unkempt high-use community hiking trail on the north side of the San Diego riverbed in Lakeside, CA.

The volunteer force of close to fifty participants started early in the day to avoid the 95-degree late afternoon heat. All stakeholders on hand were hydrated as the temperatures rose and sweat-raising hard work was performed. Protection of the native plant species was one of the project goals, so extraordinary effort was required using mostly hand tools. Picks, shovels, hoes, and some battery-powered equipment were used… all supplied by the association’s contractors and vendor participants.

The primary goal of this project was to clean out the debris, weeds, and obstructing tree materials that narrow the trail. We made the trails wider while also bringing their natural beauty back to life and improving the safety for the community who visits. Once clearing was completed, we added high-quality recycled mulch. Donated by Agri Service Waste Management, the mulch will help reduce unwanted weeds and conserve our precious water resources. Mulching as the areas were cleared also motivated volunteers, who don’t always see the immediate results of their efforts, as they got to see the finished product in real-time.

All in all, the project was rated as highly successful. The California Landscape Contractors Association volunteer participation is a deep reminder that licensed landscapers are the responsible professional resource for environmental protection and sustainability.