PORT ANGELES — Volunteers will roll up their sleeves Saturday for the fifth annual Big Spring Spruce Up, a community cleanup day aimed at giving downtown Port Angeles a fresh look ahead of the summer season.
Now organized by the Port Angeles Waterfront District and presented by First Fed, the event was previously run by the Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director Sam Grello said the day blends hard work with fun, as volunteers tackle overgrown areas and litter throughout the city’s core.
“We get a bunch of volunteer groups, and folks from the public show up down, in our Waterfront District. And we just kind of spruce things up. We pull weeds, we pick up trash. We have a good time. We crack jokes,” said Grello.
Participants will check in starting at 9 a.m. in the parking lot on Front Street next to Bourbon West, across from the Red Goose Shoes lot. From there, they’ll be grouped and sent out to target locations including City Pier, its parking lot, Hollywood Beach, Pebble Beach Park, and major corridors like First Street, Front Street, and Railroad Avenue.
Cleanup efforts will focus on pulling weeds, trimming overgrowth, and general beautification. Volunteers are encouraged to bring gloves, shears, shovels, and weeding tools; some supplies will be available. All volunteers will receive a t-shirt, snacks, and water. A photographer will capture candid moments throughout the day, with a drone photo planned to cap off the event.
“This is kind of an extension of some of the work we’re already doing. We have a group that meets every Tuesday from 9 to 10 a.m. in front of the Dyer Fountain—it’s called the Plucking Posse. We’re tackling a lot of the same issues, helping the city make our Waterfront District really shine,” said Grello.
Grello also noted that the City of Port Angeles plans to pressure wash sidewalks in the coming weeks — something he said hasn’t happened in over a decade.