Volunteers will tidy up Grand Avenue on Sunday Apr. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The clean-up is one of many organized by the Grand Lake Improvement and Beautification Committee.

Eric Hughes, chair of the committee, said he or other members of the group sometimes clean the area on their own. The bigger clean-ups, with more people, happen about twice a year.

“Sometimes it’s just my dog and me,” Hughes said. “Occasionally other people join in as well.”

He said he’s planning for another clean-up in June at the Interstate 580 off-ramp at Grand Avenue. The timing will depend on Caltrans, which has to close the off-ramp for the project to happen.

Hughes said this kind of volunteerism is especially needed now in light of the city’s budget crises. In October 2008, 50 percent of the city’s parks maintenance staff – about 100 people – were laid off, said Sue Piper, an aide to Vice Mayor Jean Quan.

“There are a lot of people in the neighborhood who do this stuff,” Hughes said. They don’t do it because they get credit or because they’re part of my committee. They just do it, otherwise this neighborhood would be a mess.”

Hughes said his goal is to hold four group clean-ups a year and even switch areas, for example, if there’s a need for their presence around Lake Merritt.

He said the group on Saturday will include students looking for community service hours. Students at least 16 years old are invited to participat.

The group will go out rain or shine, though severe weather will cancel the event.

“Unless it’s absolutely pouring or something, we will do some work on Sunday,” Hughes said.

The clean-up will take place across the street from the Grand Lake Theater near the Interstate 580 freeway exit. If there are enough participants, the work will continue at the municipal parking lot between Grand and Walker avenues.

The Grand Lake Improvement and Beautification Committee can be found on Facebook.