Downtown San Bernardino wins Clean California designation

By AI, Created 5:23 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Downtown San Bernardino is among the first 30 communities in California to earn Caltrans’ Clean California Community designation. City leaders say the recognition could help draw investment, support downtown revitalization, and build on a multi-year cleanup and beautification effort.

Why it matters: - The Clean California Community designation gives Downtown San Bernardino added state recognition and access to potential resources. - City leaders say the award supports efforts to attract businesses, strengthen public spaces, and reinforce downtown as a job and population center. - Realicore’s David Friedman said the recognition, along with a 25-year low in crime, is making downtown more appealing to businesses.

What happened: - The City of San Bernardino announced that its downtown is one of the first 30 California communities designated a Clean California Community by Caltrans. - The designation is part of the state’s Clean CA initiative. - Downtown San Bernardino’s Clean California work began in 2021. - The city’s Public Works Department, working with local businesses and organizations, won a $722,000 grant to turn an alley between Court Street and 4th Street into Sole Alley.

The details: - Caltrans launched the Clean California Program in 2021 to clean up, reclaim, transform and beautify public spaces statewide. - Caltrans developed the program with Keep America Beautiful and Keep California Beautiful. - Communities must meet at least 10 of 15 criteria to earn official designation. - Full designation can bring priority access to grants, educational resources, and recognition through state websites, social media posts and media outreach. - Qualifying criteria include free dump days, public education programs, community cleanups, greening and beautification, highway art installations, new parks and transit station improvements. - Communities also must measure and document progress. - Recent downtown projects include renovation of the historic California Theater front façade, solar lighting on 2nd, 4th and 6th streets, repaving 2nd Street, and demolition of the Carousel. - Mayor Helen Tran said downtown is the city’s government and business center. - Tran said 38,250 people work downtown, 50,567 residents live there, and 2,756 businesses generated $6.7 billion in sales in 2024. - California Gov. Gavin Newsom said last summer that the program had removed more than 3 million cubic yards of litter and debris over four years, enough to fill more than 136,000 garbage trucks. - The city said the designation reflects a multi-year partnership with the Arts Connection/Arts Council of San Bernardino County, Creative Grounds and Realicore. - Friedman said small businesses, nonprofit groups, city council members and residents helped drive the effort. - Ray Blom, president of the City of San Bernardino Downtown Neighborhood Association, said the cleanup effort is about restoring pride and showing that the city is worth investing in. - Blom said the effort is also about building a safer, stronger and more united San Bernardino. - Rev. Chuck Singelton of Loveland Church said the city is returning to the place he remembered after moving there 50 years ago. - Singelton said Loveland Church and Cascades Development Company are excited to work in the city again. - The city provided contact information for buying or leasing downtown space: David Friedman, (909) 486-2957, dfriedman@realicore.com. - Realicore’s website is the company’s website.

Between the lines: - The designation is not just about litter removal. The criteria also push communities toward visible civic upgrades, art, transit access and resident engagement. - San Bernardino is pairing the state recognition with downtown investments that aim to make the area more attractive for tenants, visitors and residents. - The crime drop referenced by Friedman appears to be part of the broader business case, even though the city’s announcement centers on the Clean California honor.

What’s next: - Downtown San Bernardino can now use the designation to compete for state attention, grant opportunities and marketing exposure. - City and private partners are likely to keep promoting downtown for leasing and investment. - Ongoing progress will matter, since communities must continue documenting improvements to maintain the program’s standards. - Realicore is the contact point for businesses interested in downtown space.