Service Saturdays take place from spring through fall in the North Loop. Service Saturdays include picking up trash from around the neighborhood, working to enhance our beautiful park and playground along the river, as well as other special activities each month.

We are so fortunate to have a committed crew of volunteers to help us maintain the beauty and cleanliness of our neighborhood!

Service Saturdays are held on the second Saturday of each month, from April through November (or when the snow flies).

The day starts with gathering at 9:30am at Corner Coffee at 514 N 3rd Street, where volunteers are provided with bags and gloves, and spend an hour or so picking up trash around the neighborhood. This makes a huge difference as we all work to keeping the North Loop a clean, litter-free zone!

Starting at 10am, another volunteer group gathers at James Rice Park to begin their efforts of the day to continue working to beautify the park and playground area, continuing to remove invasive plants, planting trees, shrubs and perennial plants, and much more.

In addition, special neighborhood activities and events are secheduled for Service Saturdays throughout the season.

Here’s the schedule for the season ahead:

June 10

• Trash Pick-up – Corner Coffee 9:30am
• Flower Gardens and Playground (Mulch Day) MPRB supported event at 4th Avenue Playground – 10am

July 8

• Trash Pick-up – Corner Coffee 9:30am
• Tree Care – mulch and water new trees at James Rice Park (Central/North Riverbanks) – 10am

August 12

• Trash Pick-up – Corner Coffee 9:30am
• James Rice Park Clean-up with focus on Invasive Plant Removal, especially buckthorn and invasive vines, focusing in the South and North Forests. This will help prepare the ground for the Tree Planting event in September. – 10am

September 9

• Trash Pick-up – Corner Coffee 9:30am
• The big North Loop Tree Planting event at James Rice Park North Riverbank. Activities will include digging/planting the 150 saplings, plus staking, ID flagging, covering (tree tubes), mulching, and watering the new trees. Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) supported event – 10am
• School Supply Donation Drive – Location TBD

October 14

• Trash Pick-up – Corner Coffee 9:30am
• Garden Beds – Planting and Maintenance – 4th Avenue Playground – 10am
• Dog Parade – Location TBD

November 10 – Weather-dependent

• Trash Pick-up – Corner Coffee 9:30am
• Grass Seeding and Winter Prep – FMR Supported event – James Rice Park North Riverbank – 10am