Residents are being encouraged to take life litter-ally and refuse to reuse the refuse in a yearly event that talks trash to Tri-Lakes region residents.

The 2026 Great American Cleanup Pikes Peak Partners will be held from 9 a.m.-noon, May 9 at 645 Beacon Lite Road in Monument. The cleanup is the nation’s largest community improvement effort designed to remove litter and debris from parks, public spaces, roadsides, trails and waterways.

Litter pick-ups, recycling and bulk waste disposal figure heavily in the event that targets improving public spaces and enhancing neighborhood pride. The Fountain Creek Watershed District is organizing the event.

Event Organizer Portia Hermann praised the event and the participants who each year congregate to help spruce up the community. More than 100 volunteers are expected to bring gloves, rakes, trash bags and other supplies, and participate in the cleanup.

“This year’s event isn’t any different from last year, only that we hope to see a bigger turnout,” Hermann said.

According to Hermann, the event seeks to encourage Monument residents to take ownership of their local environment and promote civic engagement by cleaning up their community. The growing number of participants testifies to that responsibility.

“Getting together to be a part of something that benefits the community is pretty neat,” Hermann said.

The event not only improves local aesthetics and protects the environment, but fosters community spirit and enhances safety. The cleanup also increases property values.

Past events have helped build strong relationships as people of all ages and backgrounds come together to help restore and beautify neighborhoods and community gathering places, Hermann said.

“People like getting together and doing something for their town. People from all walks of life participate in this event and it’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Often, the cleanup aligns with nationwide efforts with volunteers taking care of their town’s scenic areas. This includes the sculpture park near Prairie Winds Elementary School serving grades PK-6 within Lewis-Palmer School District 38.

The cleanup offers multifaceted benefits that improve Monument’s environment, economy and residential well-being. Removing litter prevents animals from eating or becoming entangled in hazardous waste, and prevents pollutants and plastics from entering rivers and oceans, protecting aquatic ecosystems.

Clearing invasive species and removing trash help plants and pollinators flourish. Eliminating containers and vehicle tires removes stagnant water which, in turn, eliminates mosquito breeding grounds. Mosquitoes are primary carriers of West Nile virus leading to flu-like illness or severe neurological disease.

Also, the cleanup offers economic and civic benefits. Well-groomed, trash-free neighborhoods are more aesthetically appealing to home buyers and can boost home values. Additionally, clean public spaces attract more visitors who are more likely to shop at local businesses.

Clean streets inspire entrepreneurs to invest their money in the community. Areas that appear maintained, cared for and are aesthetically pleasing often experience lower crime.

Participants who collect trash get plenty of fresh air, outdoor exercise and physical activity. Additionally, the cleanup helps inspire civic pride and long-term stewardship in litter-ary minded individuals.

For many participants, the event holds special meaning as the nation this year celebrates its 250th birthday on July 4 and Colorado, its 150th birthday on August 1. The cleanup offers an incentive to celebrate the Centennial States’ legacy of independence and outdoor stewardship.

For this reason, residents are encouraged to join the many participants planning to work together to clean up and make Monument a more beautiful place to live, play and work.

“We live in a windy part of town where trash flies out of bins and is blown all over the place. So, this cleanup is important to the community,” Hermann said.

To register visit Town of Monument Community Events page at events@tomgov.org. To learn more call 719-481-2954.