Warren and Phyllis Dorn founded Morro Bay BEATUFIUL in 1981, with the idea of maintaining and preserving the beauty of Morro Bay. Over the years, MBB has showcased Morro Bay through our volunteers where the majority of our projects originated, were funded, and completed by our members.
Our favorite job is The Litter Brigade.
Each week, our crew goes out to
various locations and picks up litter.
It’s fun and very satisfying, especially
when you see the before and after!
With the assistance of the Harbor Department,
Morro Bay Beautiful sponsors a semi-annual
sand-spit cleanup.
Some years are treasure troves.
In 2019, we started the Butt Bucket Brigade
in accordance with our mission to kept
the Butts out of the Bay! This successful endeavor
inspired the city to place vertical cigarette dispensers
along the Embarcadero and the Rock.
Along with the city’s efforts, you can see
MB citizens out quietly picking up butts
and garbage on a regular bases. We applaud them!
In addition to cleaning the streets,
we also keep our signs free of
stickers and graffiti.
Adopt-a-Tree Program
Annual Christmas Lights Awards
Dory came over for a year in 2019 and hopped around Downtown from store to store for some Morro Bay fun. Inspired by the movie Finding Dory, our Dory seemed to know she belonged here in Morro Bay.
Gary from Goofy Graphics painted the electric boxes on the corner of Man and Harbor and also next to Mike’s Barbershop on Morro Bay Blvd.
40 plus Years of Morro Bay BEAUTIFUL Projects
• MBB members pick up trash weekly throughout the city and remove stickers and graffiti on an ongoing base.
• MBB created the “Keep your Butts out of the Bay” campaign in 2019 and the City of Morro Bay has now added vertical receptacles on poles throughout Embarcadero and the Rock to assist in keeping the tradition.
• MBB Sells “Morro Bay BEAUTIFUL” license plate holders, a tradition started by Phyllis Dorn, and also provides them to local businesses to sell. See our SHOP page.
• MBB supports the Morro Bay Natural Estuary Program by donating 25% of its annual profits from license plate holders to this worthy cause.
• MBB Annual High School Scholarship Program honors graduates with college assistance based on their environmental service and other projects that beautify the city.
• With the aid of the Harbor Dept, MBB sponsors and organizes an annual sand-spit cleanup.
• In celebration of our 40th Anniversary, MBB commissioned a puzzle of the city in 2021 by acclaimed artist and puzzle maker, Eric Dowdle of The Dowdle Folk Art Company.
• For over 26 yrs, MBB has sponsored and organized the Morro Bay Annual Citywide Yard Sale where folks from out of town would come to shop, adding revenue to the city and helping many families unload their treasurers.
• MBB sponsored “Art Cans”, twenty-six trash receptacles along the Embarcadero and various city parks to enhance the beauty of the surrounding area.
• MBB solicited Goofy Graphics to paint the electric boxes on Main and Harbor and next to Mike’s Barber Shop on Morro Bay Blvd.
• MBB sponsored Dory – a paper mâché replica of the beloved character from the movie Finding Dory who, mistakenly thought she was from Morro Bay. Our Dory traveled from business to business for a year in 2018 and was a smashing success!
• MBB solicited sponsors for the planting and maintenance of 19 city planter boxes, located on the sidewalks of Olde Town on Main and Morro Bay Blvd. In 2019, they were donated to the city.
• MBB adopted Anchor Park on the waterfront and assisted the city in keeping it clean and tidy.
• MBB members planted and maintained portions of the Embarcadero street median.
• MBB adopted a section of Hwy 1 and several off-ramps that members regularly cleaned up and maintained.
• MBB members periodically pressure-washed city fences and trash containers.
• MBB sponsored and organized an annual Rock-to-Pier cleanup along the length of Morro Strand Beach.
• MBB sponsored and organized the annual Morro Bay Christmas Lights Awards.
• MBB supported the official Morro Bay Tree Committee, and with the Adopt-a-Tree campaign, planted over 100 trees throughout the city.