Want to start building a sense of community in your neighborhood?

Take part in a cleanup effort.

The time is now. Seriously, like this weekend. Volunteers are needed to clean up local beaches and parks and even to spruce up the veterans monuments in Garfield Heights in time for Memorial Day.

When people step up to shine up their neighborhood, it shows that a community values its resources. And the results can really snowball.

Retiree Chris Piazza, who is coordinating the Garfield Heights beautification effort, says she didn't mean to start a community movement.

But that's what happened last year, after she noticed the city's Civic Center area was looking overgrown and neglected.

Piazza decided to stop one summer day, to get out of her car and pull the weeds she saw. "It just took a little effort, but I did it," she says, and over the next few days, she continued weeding and tidying the area.

"It started a little spark," she reflects. People noticed her work and started joining her. One resident donated a bunch of hostas from her yard and worked with Piazza to plant them last fall.

Now she has residents donating mulch and bags of soil as well as their time. Piazza is grateful the idea caught on and is looking forward this year to expanding it to a full-fledged community effort to improve, revitalize and maintain several public areas.

"I was determined that this effort would be volunteer only. It was not going to cost the city anything. The city isn't in a position to pay for these things right now," says Piazza, who worked for the city of Garfield Heights for 20 years.

You know how it's just human nature to not want to dirty up something you just cleaned?

That's why it's a smart idea to bring kids to cleanup events. It can teach them to pick up after themselves, points out Piazza, who notes that youths tend to congregate and drop litter near the city's Veterans Plaza.

Her immediate focus is on getting the city's Veterans Memorial and Veterans Plaza in shape in time for Memorial Day on May 28. "Work has started at both memorials, removing old dead bushes and putting in new flower beds."

Volunteers are welcome. To get involved, call Piazza at 216-587-2786.

Two other local cleanup efforts could use volunteers, too.

From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, there will be a public beach cleanup at Edgewater Park, organized by the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Drink Local Drink Tap and Barefoot Wine.

Meet at the beach pavilion at Edgewater Park, 6616 Memorial Shoreway West in Cleveland. Bring gloves, wear closed-toe shoes and bring a bucket to stash the debris you pick up, so that fewer plastic bags will be used.

Register online at greatlakesadopt.org, or just show up. After the cleanup, participants who are 21 and over can attend a free celebration hosted by Barefoot Wine.

In Cleveland Heights, volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday for the annual sprucing up of Coventry PEACE Park, at Coventry Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard.

Brick walkways will be weeded. Sun-faded play areas will be repainted. Volunteers will sand, paint, prune and plant as needed.

Coventry PEACE Park was built by volunteers, and the community continues to take responsibility for its upkeep, says Erick Kauffman, a Cleveland Heights resident and president of the nonprofit group Coventry PEACE.

Although Coventry Elementary School is no longer there, the park is still open to anyone who wants to come and play. "We consider it a very special place. We're just trying to keep it going," Kauffman says. Tools, gloves and snacks will be provided.

Your city's not mentioned above? Connect with your local community development corporation, city hall, school or park district.

"Work with them to connect with community cleanups that may be taking place, get involved with a block club, or ask how you can start your own," advises Jen Palmejar-Takaki of HandsOn Northeast Ohio, which organizes volunteer projects.

To reach Margaret Bernstein: mbernstein@plaind.com, 216-999-4876