Las Vegas, NM – The City of Las Vegas Solid Waste Department, under the direction of Solid Waste Director David Marquez, is pleased to announce the successful completion of two community-wide environmental events this month, the Gallinas River Park Community Cleanup and Residential Bulk Amnesty Day. Both events brought together residents in a shared effort to improve the environment and strengthen community pride. These efforts also included a special surprise cleanup collaboration that City staff was honored to be part of, highlighting the growing involvement of local schools and community groups in environmental stewardship.

Gallinas River Park Community Cleanup – April 17, 2026

The Gas, Solid Waste, Water, and Parks Departments kicked things off strong ahead of the event, working together along the River Walk corridor to get everything ready for the big day. Crews removed graffiti, cleaned up key areas, and helped bring new life to the space. One of the standout improvements was the bridge north of Bridge Street, which was freshly painted a bold purple. The new look adds color, pride, and a vibrant gateway feel leading toward New Mexico Highlands University.

The Gallinas River Park Community Cleanup turned into an incredible day of teamwork and community spirit, with more than 200 volunteers showing up ready to make a difference. The energy was high from the start, with participation from local residents, veterans, business owners, city staff, the Luna Community College softball team, and students from Las Vegas City Schools and West Las Vegas High School. City leadership also joined right in on the action, including Mayor David Romero, Councilman Marvin Martinez, and Councilman Benito Pacheco, working side by side with volunteers throughout the day.

Equipped with safety vests, gloves, trash bags, and tools, volunteers spread out across the area and got to work. By the end of the event, the Solid Waste Division estimated approximately 1,660 pounds of trash and debris had been removed. Items collected included three tires (one with a rim), a steel shopping cart, branches, weeds, and numerous bags of litter picked up by dedicated volunteers across the park and river corridor.

The event was made possible through the New Mexico Clean & Beautiful program under the New Mexico Tourism Department and was part of the statewide “Breaking Bad Habits” Cleanup Campaign led by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, focused on building cleaner, healthier communities across New Mexico.

 A special highlight of the day came courtesy of Alta Vista Regional Hospital, who not only supported the event but cooked for everyone on site, serving hamburgers and hot dogs. Volunteers were truly spoiled and appreciated, and it added a fun, community picnic feel to a hard-working day.

Altogether, the event reflected what makes this community special. Solid Waste Director David Marquez noted that the day showed the power of teamwork, bringing together residents, students, city departments, sponsors, and elected officials for a shared purpose and a lot of community pride.

Special Cleanup Surprise

During the conclusion of the River Park cleanup, participants were surprised with a coordinated effort happening across town involving local schools. Los Niños Elementary and Sierra Vista Elementary were also out on their own campuses, turning their school grounds into cleanup zones at the same time. Even with strong winds, students stayed focused, energetic, and fully committed as they picked up litter and made a visible difference on their campuses.

What made the moment even more special was a visit from Mayor David Romero, Councilman Benito Pacheco, Solid Waste Director David Marquez, Solid Waste Manager Gilbert Jaramillo, and PIO Amanda Salas. They stopped by the school sites to see the students in action, cheer them on, and spend time talking with them about their efforts.

For many of the students, getting to meet the Mayor was a big highlight. They proudly shared their excitement and support for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the “Breaking Bad Habits” initiative, showing that even the youngest community members are stepping up and taking ownership of keeping their city clean.

Amnesty Day – April 25, 2026

The Solid Waste Transfer Station also hosted a successful Amnesty Day on April 25, serving 142 vehicles and providing an opportunity for the safe disposal of large and bulky waste items.

Items collected included:

• 116 tires

• 37 mattresses

• 5 box springs

• 25 sofas

• 9 televisions

• 11 chairs

A total of 117,010 pounds, or 58.5 tons, of material was collected and diverted from illegal dumping.

Together, both events reflect a strong commitment to environmental responsibility, community pride, and collaboration across all levels of the community. From city departments and elected officials to schools, volunteers, and local partners, the combined efforts resulted in cleaner public spaces, reduced illegal dumping, and increased awareness about proper waste disposal. The City of Las Vegas extends its sincere appreciation to everyone who participated, supported, and helped make these events a success.