Sweeps Day

Katie Henninger thought she knew what she was getting into when she moved to a Playa del Rey neighborhood two weeks ago. The signs had been up for weeks advertising the annual community cleanup. Every few days, organizers stuffed fliers into mailboxes and on car windshields reminding residents of the big event.

But as she leaned on her broom and wiped sweat from her face under the hot sun Sunday, Henninger looked a little overwhelmed. A couple of hours into the cleanup, she was still clearing away a mess of leaves and garbage next to her apartment. Up the alley, dozens of her neighbors hacked away at low-hanging tree branches and pulled at patches of grass poking up through the asphalt. A large yellow city street-sweeping machine circled the block at regular intervals.

“This is a heavy-duty cleanup,” said Henninger, 31, surveying all the activity. “I’ve never seen anything like it. But it’s good because you don’t feel you’re one person against the creeping crud.”

On a warm, drowsy Sunday that many Angelenos spent lazing on the beach or in the backyard, more than 300 Playa del Rey neighbors trimmed trees, painted fire hydrants and purged their garages of junk in one of the longest-running neighborhood cleanups in the city. It’s a scene that is repeated many times in other neighborhoods throughout Southern California on the weekends.

But for 20 years in Playa del Rey, residents have come together once a year to clean up “The Jungle,” as they’ve affectionately dubbed their tiny, five-block neighborhood nestled against the beach. What began as a small endeavor by a handful of neighbors has evolved into a large-scale affair with sponsorship from local businesses, assistance from at least three city agencies and the participation of almost every resident.

This is more than a cleanup, neighbors say. Through the sweat and the grime, they get to know each other better on this day than any other time during the year.

Young tenants fill most of the units along this small beachfront strip, which some say earned the nickname of “The Jungle” because of the lush, fast-growing trees that took over the area.

“But some people say it’s because we know how to party,” laughed Pam Brown, president of the homeowners association.

Decked out in bikinis and blasting music from their apartments, many neighbors looked better prepared for a beach party than a day of intense manual labor.

Even as the beer flowed freely, workers ripped up weeds, trimmed hedges and threw away old garbage. Some balanced frothy margaritas in one hand and hedge clippers in the other. The piles of trash grew as the day went on.

No one had an excuse not to participate. One organizer had circled the neighborhood with a bullhorn early in the morning, waking up volunteers.

For some, the event blended the best of the beach city lifestyle: hard work and good living.

“The key to this event is to get up early, so you can finish early and drink beer,” said Trevor Rhody as he and some friends took a midmorning keg break.

In front of one small house, dozens of men helped J.R. Hall rip out his old, termite-infested deck.

“I waited to do this today because I knew it would be easier,” said Hall, 38. “I have about 60 boards to tear out, and 60 friends who are helping me do it. You get a real sense of community from this.”

Ellie Haugh watched all the activity, beaming. Haugh started this event 20 years ago when she moved into the neighborhood and invited some residents over for coffee.

“The idea was to get everyone to know each other,” said Haugh, 81. The meeting led to the formation of a homeowners association and the first cleanup.

Haugh moved away 10 years ago, but this year she flew from Minnesota to be part of the 20th cleanup.

“It’s a wonderful place,” she said. “It’s a beach town full of young people and old birds like me who keep coming back.”

The cleanup has generated several other traditions, including an annual T-shirt commemorating the event and large block party.

The Playa del Rey cleanup is an impressive example of neighborhood spirit, said Edmund Hernandez, a coordinator of the city’s Operation Clean Sweep.

“It’s very unusual to have such a high neighborhood turnout,” said Hernandez, whose program provided the rakes, shovels and brooms for the event.

In addition, parking enforcers and police officers circled the neighborhood ticketing and towing abandoned cars. Today, the Department of Sanitation will come scoop up the towering piles of junk.

“It’s a lot of work, but look at the difference it makes,” said longtime resident Bill Poulos, pointing to the freshly swept streets. “Everyone comes out for it.”

“And,” he added, laughing, “all the single guys get to meet the single girls.” Poulos speaks from experience: He met his wife at the 1985 cleanup.

By the middle of the afternoon, most neighbors had congregated in front of a large garage, chatting in small groups as Beach Boys music filled the air. Hot dogs, chili and beer were served up to the sweaty workers, who congratulated each other on the clean streets and yards.

“It’s just awesome,” said Rich Sawyer, 31. “I’ve never been in a neighborhood like this in my life.”