Clean teams help make public spaces safer and more welcoming. They remove litter, graffiti and hazardous waste, helping ensure no parent has to worry about their child stepping on a dirty needle while walking to school or playing in the park. Some programs also pair those services with Safety Ambassadors who serve as extra eyes and ears for downtown neighborhoods, providing hospitality, safety escorts, business outreach and connections to emergency services.
One of the nation’s longest-running examples of this two-pronged approach is in Kentucky, the Louisville Downtown Partnership’s Ambassador Team, which has served Downtown Louisville since 1995. Today, ambassadors work seven days a week across more than 100 blocks, removing an average of 2,000 pounds of litter each week while assisting visitors, supporting local businesses and reporting emergencies.
Safer Cities recently spoke with Rebecca Fleischaker, Executive Director of the Louisville Downtown Partnership, about how the program helps strengthen downtown safety and vitality.
- On How Clean Streets Help People Feel Safe And Welcome: “Clean, inviting streets signal that you’re in a place where you’re meant to be. When a space looks and feels maintained and welcoming, people are attracted to it and feel more confident in being there, visitors will linger longer, residents take pride in their neighborhood, and businesses benefit from increased foot traffic.”
- On The Many Roles Clean Teams Play Beyond Cleaning: “Beyond regular litter abatement, the LDP Ambassador Team shares public safety information, stays connected with business owners, assists visitors, shoppers, workers, and residents, and provides safety escorts upon request. Their work also includes weed and graffiti removal, sidewalk pressure washing, and hanging the colorful banners that line our streets.”
- On Expanding Services To Reach More Of The City: “The LDP Ambassador Team works seven days a week beginning at 6am and covers the approximate 100 blocks of Downtown Louisville’s Business Improvement District. The district has evolved over the decades as new buildings and businesses have been added to the service area.
In 2025, this boundary grew to include the northeastern portion of Downtown including the baseball park and a two-block area adjacent to the Louisville Medical & Education District. The expansion filled a critical service gap and strengthened connectivity across the district.”
