Bellevue is asking residents to grab a trash bag and help clean up Northeast Bellevue this Saturday, Aug. 8, as the city kicks off an ambitious initiative: 26 neighborhood street cleanups in one year.
The free event runs from 9 to 11 a.m. at Ivanhoe Park, 16600 Northup Way. No experience is needed. The city will provide all cleanup supplies, plus coffee and water. Volunteers can stay the full two hours or drop in for whatever time they have.
The cleanup is the first Northeast Bellevue event in the city's new "26 in '26" campaign, a Signature Streets effort run through the Keep Bellevue Beautiful program. The program, housed under the city's Community Development department, aims to hold cleanups twice a month across Bellevue's neighborhoods throughout 2026, according to the city's event listing. The city described the goal as showing up consistently to take care of streets and support cleaner, more welcoming neighborhoods.
Future cleanups are planned in Cougar Mountain-Lakemont, Factoria, Bridle Trails and other areas, all following the same 9–11 a.m. format with supplies provided.
Past Keep Bellevue Beautiful events have drawn more than 100 volunteers on a single Saturday morning, according to the city's Facebook page. Youth volunteers can earn community service hours.
Air quality caveat
One wrinkle: wildfire smoke blanketed the Puget Sound region starting Monday, Aug. 3, prompting the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to issue an air quality alert for King County through 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6. The smoke forced cancellations of outdoor events across the region, including Seattle's Dancing 'til Dusk at Occidental Park on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
The city's event listing notes Saturday's cleanup is "subject to cancellation based on air quality conditions." Meteorologist Scott Sistek of Emerald City Weather Blog predicted cleaner air would return by Friday, Aug. 7, as marine breezes push the smoke out of the Puget Sound lowlands, with weekend temperatures in the 70s or low 80s. But conditions can shift quickly.
Residents planning to attend should check the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at pscleanair.gov or AirNow at airnow.gov before heading out Saturday morning.
How to participate
- When: Saturday, Aug. 8, 9–11 a.m.
- Where: Ivanhoe Park, 16600 Northup Way, Bellevue, WA 98008
- Cost: Free
- What to bring: Nothing — supplies, coffee and water provided
- Accessibility: For alternate formats, interpreters or accommodation requests, contact the city at least 48 hours in advance at 425-452-5372 or [email protected].
