This project was made possible by the Clean California Local Grant Program 

This project will result in the curation and addition of 55 new and 20 renovated eye-catching art-wrapped dual waste/recycling bins strategically placed in three (3) distinct “high-trash” generating areas in the City. The City has partnered with the Fort Bragg Unified School District Art Department to use art created by students for the bins. The inception of this project was inspired by art-wrapped bins seen in other communities and the City’s ongoing commitment to using art as a means of creative placemaking. In addition to the curation and installation of the art-wrapped dual-purpose bins, the City plans to host two (2) Beach Clean-Up events.

Bin Locations 

Area 1 - Coastal Trail 

The first location is a pathway along the beautiful City Owned and maintained Coastal Trail, fronting the Pacific Ocean and bordering the west side of the City. This trail was developed in phases between 2015 and 2019 and currently only has a few sporadically placed aging garbage cans along this popular local/tourist pedestrian route. The Coastal Trail has two parking lots, one located at the North Entrance and one at the South Entrance. There is a third access point in the middle that can accommodate pedestrian and cyclist traffic, although there is no City-owned parking lot at this time. Some key features of the existing trail include a variety of unique benches and murals along the trail. 

The incorporation of these eye-catching cans will further complement the existing features as well as enhance the cultural connection and community placemaking by improving the number of cans along the trail so that people would carry garbage shorter distances and are more likely to properly dispose of waste and recycling according to generally accepted behavioral psychology. The types of cans currently on the trail are a hodge-podge combination of wooden open-top cans and plastic cans chained down. The open-top cans create a real issue when people dispose of take-out food containers and the wildlife tear into the waste and spread it all over the trail. Public access to these sensitive habitat areas along the trail and bluffs makes the installation of long-lasting, high-quality cans a high priority to maintain beauty and cleanliness for everyone to enjoy.

Area 2- Central Business District 

The second location is partly within the City’s public RIGHT-OF-WAY and partly within Caltrans' public RIGHT-OF-WAY. This segment of the project would include replacing the doors on the existing cans along the sidewalks of the City’s Central Business District (CBD) with art-wrapped doors.  Much of the downtown was built during the first half of the twentieth century and reflects the architectural heritage of the community providing a link to the past and strengthening the City’s identity. The Central Business District is the heart of the community’s commercial, civic, historic, and cultural life. It is the area with the largest concentration of historic buildings such as the Skunk Train Depot, the Guest House Museum, the Old Fort Building, Town Hall, City Hall, and numerous commercial and residential structures. In 2020, the Arts Council of Mendocino County started the Alleyway Art Project.  The project reflects the type of creativity Fort Bragg continues to capitalize on, to connect the Arts and Environmental Preservation, enhance the community’s diverse cultural heritage, and institute relative strategies designed to complement the City’s ongoing revitalization efforts. The City is seeking to extend the concept of using art to make something mundane like a trashcan both educational (via the use of local flora and fauna) as well as create a high-quality perception of local pride. 

Several cans in this district were replaced using general funds in 2018 because the older metal cans were/are corroded and failing and did not have a top cover so the ravens were regularly causing trash overflow. Due to budget constraints at the time, only 20 of the cans could be replaced, leaving several dilapidated cans still in service. The cans in this area that were recently replaced will only receive Art-Wrapped doors that will face in, toward the sidewalk and business fronts, and are denoted as “renovate bins” on the project map. 

Area 3 - Schools & Parks 

The third location was initiated as part of the conversation with the Art Teachers to provide artwork for the cans. The District notified us of their challenges with insufficient waste receptacles across School property and no outdoor recycling bins, which is particularly problematic at the sports fields. This immediately prompted the formation of a partnership with the Fort Bragg Unified School District to enable them to provide these important receptacles throughout their campuses. The art teachers are very interested in the opportunity this grant provides for students to be engaged in a meaningful educational opportunity connecting art and environmental preservation, creating a sense of placemaking and continuity by beautifying their community through their art. While not entirely open to the public, it is a public school that hosts a variety of events from athletic to academic. Many of the sporting events are open to the public, with some requiring a ticket fee. This area also includes two City-owned parks (Bainbridge Park and Otis Johnson Park). These parks were included in this “Area” due to geographic proximity and the themes selected by the Art Department. 

 Existing conditions of trash & recycling cans

Area Themes

The themes of each area relate to their environmental importance and act as a reminder of why stewardship is important. The Coastal Trail will consist of themes such as aquatic animals, and their environments. For this part of California, we are fortunate to be able to see the whales migrating from this trail and most of the coastline. The Central Business District will consist of local flora and fauna. The school/park zones will consist of more fictional monsters/creatures that devour trash and recycle. Samples of draft student art are shown below. 

Grant information 

At its regular meeting on April 10, 2023, the Fort Bragg City Council approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute agreements with the California Department of Transportation. Authorizing that resolution started the application process that would eventually turn into an $267,000 of grant funding from Clean California.