Good things happen when we work together!
Our crews are just about done installing a new public art project, led by the community, for the Little Saigon neighborhood at 12th Ave S and S Jackson St, as part of our Community Crosswalks program.
According to the artist, the crosswalk represents the tale of how Vietnam was founded.
The crosswalk design has three main components: the turtle, lotus plant, and water. Each of these objects play a role in illustrating the Vietnamese American experience and culture. The turtle has been present for centuries in Vietnamese mythology and is strongly associated with luck, longevity, and perseverance. The lotus symbolizes beauty and strength in the face of adversity. The blue water gradient is a nod to the ocean that borders Vietnam and depicts a sense of adaptability, a quality that Vietnamese immigrants and refugees had to embrace in order to rebuild their lives in new countries and cultures.*
The Little Saigon community has been working on a design for these decorative crosswalks for the past year, with two goals in mind:
- To contribute a cultural marker for the Vietnamese American community in Little Saigon
- To improve pedestrian safety at this busy intersection
For more info check out Community Crosswalks including how to apply for a Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) for community-led projects to build stronger, healthier neighborhoods through community involvement.
*Information from the Seattle Chinatown-International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda).