After a long, cold and bitter winter, with multiple snowstorms and sheets of ice that filled the Peekskill Bay, the Riverfront is looking quite a bit disheveled as trash and garbage are strewn about. But have no fear, because just as quickly as Mighty Mouse, Superman, Black Panther, Batman or She-Ra would beat down crime, #PeekskillCleanRoutine is ready to beat pollution by cleaning up the garbage at Riverfront Green.

On Saturday, March 8, from 10 a.m.-noon, the #PeekskillCleanRoutine Team will hold its first community cleanup of the year. The all-volunteer group is a small but mighty force. Instead of complaining about garbage and unsightliness, they do something about it. Throughout the year, #PeekskillCleanRoutine sets up regular cleanings and lets people know about it throughout the year via the Peekskill Clean Routine Facebook Page. 

These are people who just want the city to look better. Nothing more, nothing less — it’s that simple. “It’s actually that humble,” said Leslie Lawler, founder of the group. Everyone from the youngest to the young at heart are welcome to join Peekskill Clean Routine and spend a half hour, hour or even two hours to help pick up garbage along the Riverfront. To make it easier for volunteers, gloves and trash bags are provided. The hardest might be just showing up. Once you get there, the sheer enthusiasm, community spirit and joy of making the City a beautiful place to live will get you through the short time that it takes to fill a garbage bag.

The mission of #PeekskillCleanRoutine is to clean any small corner of Peekskill that needs it. The group was established in 2018 by Lawler, who also founded the Peekskill Community Wide Tag Sale. She is best known as founder and administrator of Peekskill Community Network – The Original Forum, a 10-year-old, 14,500- member Facebook Group. (Lawler was profiled in the Peekskill Herald 10 questions series in January 2025.)

“Over the last several years, we have cleaned Monument Park, the Riverfront, Fleischmann’s Pier, Belden Street, South Street, Highland Avenue, North Division Street, Franklin Park and Pugsley Park several times each,” Lawler said, “When we see a “hot spot” we put a clean-up together.” Last January, after the Hudson River severely overflowed its banks not once but twice in a three-week period, causing major damage and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, #PeekskillCleanRoutine hosted a cleanup event at the Riverfront, as reported in the Peekskill Herald . “Close to 80 volunteers showed up and within two hours put the Riverfront Green and Pavilion back in tip-top shape by collecting debris that filled almost 125 bags of garbage,” stated a #PeekskillCleanRoutine Facebook post. 

Volunteers for this Saturday’s clean up will meet at the gazebo, grab a bag, and fan out along the Riverfront. Volunteers are more than welcome to bring their own gloves, tools such as rakes and shovels, and whatever else they see fit. However, it is not required. This is also a community service opportunity for Honor Society Students and Confirmation Candidates. If individuals bring their community service sheets, Leslie Lawler will sign it. “This is a family-friendly and pet-friendly event, so please come out and be a part of something amazing. You’ll meet old and new friends and neighbors and be a part of Community Stewardship at its hyper local finest,” said Lawler. Registration is not required.

Don’t forget to share this article and let everyone at the Riverfront Green Cleanup that you read about it in the Peekskill Herald.

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