Key Biscayne residents can hit the water or walk the sand to help clear marine debris from Crandon Park this September, with two cleanup events scheduled as part of the 41st International Coastal Cleanup.

The first event, a mangrove paddle and walking cleanup at Crandon Park North, takes place Saturday, Sept. 12. Volunteers will remove debris from mangrove areas along Biscayne Bay, one week ahead of the official cleanup day. The event page on VolunteerCleanup.org describes the effort as aimed at protecting vulnerable species in the bay.

A second cleanup follows Saturday, Sept. 19, at Crandon Park Oceanside, covering the sandy beaches and Bear Cut Preserve. That date is the official International Coastal Cleanup Day, when more than 70 sites across Miami-Dade County will be active simultaneously. The county’s announcement lists parks, beaches, marinas and natural preserves among the locations.

Participation in both cleanups is free. Volunteers joining the paddle portion of the Sept. 12 event must bring their own vessel or arrange a rental.

Participants at the Sept. 19 oceanside event get free parking, cleanup supplies and volunteer hour certificates, according to the event listing. The countywide effort is organized locally by VolunteerCleanup.org and Clean Miami-Dade, with the Ocean Conservancy leading the global campaign. Miami-Dade County Volunteers in Parks, the county’s volunteer program, supports the park-based sites.

Other cleanup locations near Key Biscayne on Sept. 19 include Virginia Key Dog Beach Park and Hobie Island, according to Miami-Dade Parks.

Tropical Audubon Society, the South Florida conservation nonprofit, is also mobilizing for the Sept. 19 date. The group posted on X on Tuesday, Aug. 25, inviting volunteers to its own site at Steinberg Nature Center from 9 to 11 a.m.

@tropicalaudubon: “Make a difference for our waterways! Join Tropical Audubon Society for #ICC2026 at Steinberg Nature Center on Saturday, September 19, 2026, 9–11 AM. Bring a reusable water bottle & closed-toed shoes; we’ll provide gloves and cleanup supplies!”

Registration for both Crandon Park events is available at VolunteerCleanup.org.

Upcoming community events:

Saturday, Sept. 12: Mangrove paddle and walking cleanup, Crandon Park North

Saturday, Sept. 19: Oceanside beach cleanup, Crandon Park (Bear Cut Preserve area)

Saturday, Sept. 19: Countywide International Coastal Cleanup Day, 70+ sites across Miami-Dade