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We teamed up with community organizations and volunteers to help clean up in Pioneer Square. Thank you, Seattle, for a great citywide #OneSeattle Day of Service!

by on May 25, 2022
Community volunteers smile for a photo during their work in Pioneer Square as part of the One Seattle Day of Service on Saturday, May 21. Photo: SDOT.

This past Saturday, May 21, we joined thousands of volunteers around the city to pick up litter, tend gardens, and serve our local communities on the first-ever One Seattle Day of Service. The One Seattle Day of Service included more than 2,200 volunteers across the city, with 80 different activities and over 70 community partners participating.

Alongside the pre-registered events, many Seattleites also found their own ways to harness the positive energy of the day and serve their community. It was a great opportunity to get involved, even doing something simple like helping a friend or neighbor who could benefit from the volunteer support.

With the sun shining bright and spring finally in the air, our Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) staff members teamed up with community organizations and volunteers to clean up and landscape two medians along 1st Ave S in Pioneer Square. Our Signs and Marking crew closed six blocks of 1st Ave S from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to keep our team members, community volunteers, and the traveling public safe.

Sections of 1st Ave S were closed to traffic on Saturday, May 21 to keep everyone safe.
Sections of 1st Ave S were closed to traffic on Saturday, May 21 to keep everyone safe. Photo: SDOT

The Alliance for Pioneer Square, a local nonprofit organization, and Seattle Public Utilities’ Tree Ambassador group led the cleanup effort in Pioneer Square, while our Urban Forestry team provided support and expertise. Overall, well over 100 people came out to help freshen up the space, including many people doing weeding and mulching work!

Before and after

The median along 1st Ave S, before volunteer efforts on May 21.
The median along 1st Ave S, before volunteer efforts on May 21. Photo: SDOT.
The median along 1st Ave S, after volunteer efforts on May 21.
The median along 1st Ave S, after volunteer efforts on May 21. Photo: SDOT.
Community volunteers work hard to clear the center medians along 1st Ave S.
Community volunteers work hard to clear the center medians along 1st Ave S. Photo: SDOT.

Thanks to the group’s generous efforts, this space was left looking great and ready for community members to enjoy as the weather continues to improve and summer approaches. You can read about a similar project we helped complete last fall in our previous blog post.

The sun shines down on the freshly landscaped center medians, with trees standing tall on this day of service.
The sun shines down on the freshly landscaped center medians, with trees standing tall on this day of service. Photo: SDOT.

We’re grateful to everyone who came out to give their time, dedication, and hard work to volunteer for our city this weekend. Thank you for making this citywide effort a huge success!

“It’s great to see such a large community volunteer turnout!”

  – Gary Hren, Landscape Supervisor, SDOT Maintenance Operations Division

Team SDOT crew members smile and pose for the camera, during the day of service.
Team SDOT crew members smile and pose for the camera, during the day of service. Photo: SDOT.

We hope to see great turnout again in future service events, and we look forward to continuing to serve the Seattle community every day!

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