City officials on Wednesday launched a “spring cleaning” initiative in hopes of spurring neighborhood groups, nonprofits and others to organize cleanups around the city — and give those who want to participate a centralized calendar to find opportunities to pitch in this month.

The cleaning initiative calendar already includes a number of cleanups, including in the Midtown area on Saturday, in the Wrigley neighborhood on Sunday, in the Hamilton neighborhood on May 11 and Zaferia Heights on May 18.

“If we care about our city, if we care about neighborhoods, then we have to step up,” Mayor Rex Richardson said at an afternoon press conference in the Alamitos Beach parking lot, just before the first cleanup began along the shoreline.

Mayor Rex Richardson announced a citywide spring cleaning Initiative in Long Beach, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.

Officials from a number of departments were involved in the planning and organization of the initiative, including Parks and Recreation, Community Development and Public Works. The Conservation Corps is also helping organize events.

Groups that want to organize a cleanup can visit the spring cleaning website to submit a form.