The Port of Everett is hosting its 32nd annual Marina and Jetty Island Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 18 — and they need volunteers. If you’ve ever wanted to walk Jetty Island and actually feel useful while doing it, this is your weekend.

The cleanup runs from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine (this is Everett — assume rain). Volunteers meet at the Fishermen’s Tribute Plaza, across from Bluewater Distilling, at the Port of Everett waterfront. Registration is encouraged but not required. Sign up at portofeverett.com/marinacleanup to help the Port plan.

What You’re Actually Signing Up For

Last year, more than 170 volunteers picked up 1,175 pounds of litter across nearly 100 acres of waterfront and the Port’s 2-mile-long Jetty Island. That’s a meaningful number — Jetty Island is Everett’s best free outdoor amenity and the most Puget Sound-connected public space in Snohomish County. Keeping it clean is a genuine civic act, not just a photo opportunity.

The Port provides gloves, trash bags, litter pickers, and snacks. You show up in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and boots that can handle beach and marina terrain. Children are welcome as long as a parent or guardian accompanies them.

Getting to Jetty Island

Limited transportation to and from Jetty Island will be provided by Everett Community College’s Ocean Research College Academy on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want to volunteer on the island rather than the marina side, get there early. The ferry fills up and there’s no guarantee of a spot if you arrive late.

For volunteers staying on the marina side, the Fishermen’s Tribute Plaza and surrounding promenade area is accessible by foot, bike, or car directly from the parking areas at Waterfront Place.

The Sponsors

This year’s “Waste Warrior” sponsors are Haley and Aldrich, Herrera Environmental Consultants, and Northwest Aerospace Technologies. If your organization is interested in sponsoring future events, contact the Port directly through portofeverett.com.

Why This Event Has Lasted 32 Years

The Port has run this cleanup every year since 1994. That’s not an accident — the waterfront is the Port’s core asset and a growing public destination, and the Port takes stewardship seriously. The same organization that’s spending $1 billion on Waterfront Place development is also the one organizing community cleanup days and replanting shoreline habitat. Both things are real and both matter.

Jetty Island is only accessible by ferry from late June through Labor Day for the general public. The cleanup is one of the few chances to get out there in April, when the island is quiet, the water is clear, and you can actually hear the birds over the crowd. It’s worth going for that reason alone, separate from the civic good.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the cleanup?

Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Fishermen’s Tribute Plaza across from Bluewater Distilling at the Port of Everett waterfront.

Do I need to register?

Registration is encouraged but not required. Sign up at portofeverett.com/marinacleanup to help the Port plan supplies and transportation.

Is there transportation to Jetty Island?

Yes — Everett Community College’s Ocean Research College Academy is providing limited ferry transport on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early if you want to clean the island side.

What should I bring?

Wear clothes you can get dirty and footwear appropriate for beach and marina terrain. The Port provides gloves, trash bags, litter pickers, and snacks.