Public Realm Perspective – Alliance for Pioneer Square

Table of Contents

Meet Sara:

Sara Pizzo, Public Realm Manager, tackles projects that improves the streets, parks, and public spaces. She diligently works to enhance the streetscape and coordinate construction along with anything else that is needed. Her efforts make the neighborhood a safer and cleaner place for everyone to enjoy and for businesses to thrive. She enjoys connecting with the community and building relationships.

Pioneer Park

Pioneer Park sits on native Duwamish land. The Park is a main gateway into Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood. The park features outdoor seating, turn-of-the-century street lamps, a bust of Chief Seattle, a historic pergola, and a Tlingit totem pole.

We caught Sara doing door-to-door outreach for the Alliance for Pioneer Square’s Annual Spring Clean event. “Pioneer Park is a public gathering space for folks of all backgrounds to meet.” Sara comments looking around the park at the diverse group of park visitors. “Recently, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department is giving Pioneer Park some needed attention, which is very exciting for the neighborhood.” Sara is referring to the additional resources the city has funneled into the park, including staffing, landscaping, and park maintenance. As Sara is about to move on to her next business to do outreach with, Sara notes “a team from our Spring Clean event will be here this weekend to lay down mulch with the help of the City of Seattle’s Parks and Recreation department.”

Sara this week:

This week, Sara is focusing on Spring Clean. Spring Clean, now in its 11^th year, is a community beautification and community building event hosted by the Alliance for Pioneer Square in conjunction with partners from the City of Seattle, the Metropolitan Improvement District, and the Downtown Seattle Association. “Spring Clean is a great way to come together as a community and make a positive difference,” says Sara. Spring Clean is one of Sara’s first major projects as Public Realm Manager with the Alliance for Pioneer Square, a role she has held for the past six months. “There are a lot of moving parts,” Sara expresses regarding managing the project- “it is exciting to see everything come together.”

Spring Clean is held on Saturday, April 27^th from 9a-12p beginning in in Occidental Square. Snacks will be provided, and free bandanas will be available while supplies last. RSVP here!