Volunteers gathered at the Det. Luis G. Alvarez Memorial Park on April 26 as the Oceanside Community Warriors hosted their annual community cleanup, continuing a tradition tied to Earth Day and local pride.
The effort, held in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Oceanside and the Oceanside SAFE Coalition, drew about 50 participants who spent the day clearing debris, planting flowers and maintaining the park from “the street to the water,” organizers said.
Joe Cibellis, president of the Oceanside Community Warriors, said the cleanup reflects the group’s broader mission of community service and stewardship.
“We’ve always tried to do that around Earth Day,” Cibellis said. “We’ve worked very closely with local officials to help not only create that park, but to support it and keep it clean and decorated so it reflects the community.”
The Warriors, founded in recent years, have hosted the cleanup annually since about 2019, with participation growing alongside the organization itself. Cibellis said the event has become a collaborative effort, bringing together local groups, residents and elected officials.
Among those in attendance were Councilwoman Laura Ryder and Legislative Deputy Patrick Mullaney, showing continued municipal support for the initiative.
Volunteers were given flexibility in how they contributed, with the organization supplying tools and materials. Some participants planted flowers donated by local businesses, while others focused on collecting litter, clearing brush and removing debris from marshy areas of the park.
“We’re not the type of organization that dictates what someone has to do,” Cibellis said. “If people like to plant, they plant. If they like to clean, they clean. Everyone finds their way to contribute.”
Funding for the event and similar projects comes from community donations, including online fundraisers and local support. Those contributions help sustain the group’s efforts throughout the year, Cibellis said.
The cleanup also serves as a way to strengthen partnerships among local organizations. In addition to Kiwanis and SAFE Coalition involvement, Cibellis noted ongoing collaboration with the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce and other groups seeking to maintain public spaces.
Cibellis said events like the cleanup play an important role in promoting environmental awareness at the local level.
“It’s really what it’s all about,” he said. “There are a lot of great organizations in town. We just happen to focus on cleanups because that’s where we see the need.”
As volunteers worked side by side throughout the day, the effort highlighted a shared commitment to preserving Oceanside’s public spaces — and the sense of community that continues to drive participation year after year.
