Bear Creek Cleanup Events Planned Across Medford, Ashland, Talent and Phoenix

MEDFORD, Ore. (Sep. 13, 2026) — Volunteers across Southern Oregon will have nearly a dozen opportunities to clean up and restore local beaches, waterways, parks and community spaces as part of SOLVE’s annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup, scheduled Sept. 18-27.

The statewide effort will bring volunteers together at nearly 100 cleanup and restoration projects throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. In the Rogue Valley, projects will focus on local communities, natural areas and the Bear Creek watershed.

Several Southern Oregon projects are scheduled for Sept. 19 as part of Bear Creek Stewardship Day, bringing volunteers together in Ashland, Talent, Phoenix and Medford.

Among the featured events are:

Downtown Medford Clean Up
Medford | Sept. 18, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

The Downtown Medford Association will organize volunteers to clean and beautify downtown Medford.

Bear Creek Stewardship Day — Wranglers Arena
Ashland | Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m.-noon

Sponsored by Southern Oregon Geocaching, the project will focus on caring for the Bear Creek watershed and surrounding natural areas.

Bear Creek Stewardship Day — Lynn Newbry Park
Talent | Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m.-noon

Volunteers will gather at Lynn Newbry Park to participate in Bear Creek Stewardship Day and help care for the watershed.

Bear Creek Stewardship Day — Blue Heron Park
Phoenix | Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m.-noon

Sponsored by Save The Phoenix Wetlands and Pollinator Project Rogue Valley, the project will include pollinator garden maintenance, invasive plant removal in wetland areas and litter cleanup.

Bear Creek Stewardship Day — Coyote Trails Nature Center
Medford | Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m.-noon

Sponsored by Rogue Valley Sewer Services, volunteers will assist with litter cleanup and pollinator garden maintenance while supporting local habitat and the Bear Creek watershed.

SOLVE encourages residents to participate individually or organize groups of friends, family members, coworkers or neighbors.

Volunteers can browse available cleanup and restoration projects and register at volunteer.solve.org/beach-riverside.

The 2026 Beach & Riverside Cleanup is supported by Clean Water Services, Kaiser Permanente, Knife River, Keep America Beautiful, Metro, National Recreation and Park Association, Oregon State Park & Recreation, Owens Corning, Portco Packaging, Tillamook, Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc. and KOIN.

SOLVE, founded in 1969, brings communities together to care for the environment and enhance waterways. The organization mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers across Oregon and Southwest Washington to clean and restore neighborhoods and natural areas while encouraging environmental stewardship.

For more information or to register for a cleanup event, visit solve.org/beach-riverside

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