Dozens of volunteers gathered in Mott Haven on Sunday for a community cleanup under the Willis Avenue Bridge, collecting trash, removing graffiti and picking up hazardous waste, including used needles.

Organizers said the effort was aimed at improving the appearance and safety of the neighborhood while encouraging residents to take pride in the area.

“It’s a way to show love for the community,” said Wendy, a volunteer and business owner in Mott Haven.

Volunteers spent hours clearing piles of leaves and garbage from the area. Wendy said illegal dumping and littering have become ongoing issues in the neighborhood.

“Some people use this area to illegally dump,” she said. “There’s bigger trash, too, and regular garbage that people are throwing out of their windows. Not stuff we want to be around.”

As part of the cleanup, organizers installed several dog waste bag stations throughout the area to help keep the space clean long term.

“The stations actually have a QR code that you can scan and be educated on the importance of cleaning up after your dog,” said Jonas Silva, founder of Dogs of Mott Haven. “There’s also a system where you can report that there are no bags or that the solar light is not working.”

Silva helped organize the second annual cleanup and said he hopes the effort will eventually lead to the creation of a dog run in the neighborhood.

“We are advocating to turn this into a dog run here in the community because we don’t have one anywhere nearby,” Silva said.

Organizers say more community cleanups and beautification projects are planned in the coming months.