Clean, Outreach, and Hospitality Programs

The Clean, Outreach, and Hospitality programs are some of the most visible and highly acclaimed initiatives of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

Clean Team | Outreach Team | Golden Triangle Ambassadors | Contact us

Our teams provide a very visible, uniformed, friendly and welcoming presence in our district. They help keep Downtown Pittsburgh’s sidewalks and streets free of litter and debris, greet pedestrians and complement the presence of the Pittsburgh Police by being eyes and ears on the ground. Of course, keeping our Downtown neighborhood clean and safe is a shared responsibility, and we work with local property owners, merchants and partners like the Department of Public Works, Pittsburgh School District police and the Port Authority to help maintain a cohesive effort.


Clean Team

The PDP Clean Team is well-traveled in its efforts to keep Downtown clean. With their signature yellow uniforms, our team members walk a combined 12,000 miles annually, removing trash from the sidewalks, emptying and cleaning trash cans and cigarette receptacles, removing graffiti and handbills, and power-washing sidewalks and alleyways.

They work seven days a week all year long beautifying Downtown and complementing the work of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works.

We are also enthusiastic about a partnership that began in 2017 with Renewal Inc., a local workforce development program that assists people coming out of the criminal justice system.

 2022 stats:

  • 761,866 pounds of trash removed
  • 4,970 graffiti tags removed
  • 1,597 interactions of hospitality assistance
  • 2,821 volunteer hours
  • 622 business connections made

Additional information:

  • City of Pittsburgh Ordinances: click here to learn the rules about trash removal, snow and ice removal, posting signs, and more
  • For more information about picking up litter in your neighborhood, visit www.citizensagainstlitter.org

Outreach Team

The PDP Outreach Team focuses on addressing and managing panhandling and homeless issues Downtown. Outreach Ambassadors are specially trained to deal with the social circumstances surrounding these issues.

Outreach Team members are responsible for providing a visible uniformed presence, interacting with panhandlers and homeless persons, and connecting them with the local social service outreach programs, organizations, and agencies within the boundaries of Downtown’s Business Improvement District. Our Outreach Ambassadors are always approachable, helpful, and non-judgmental.

2022 Outreach Team Impacts:

The PDP Outreach Team is dedicated to building relationships with individuals in need.

  • 2,221 homeless support services initiated
  • 297 substance abuse issues assisted
  • 1,293 panhandling interactions

Golden Triangle Ambassador Program

The new Golden Triangle Ambassador program was created by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and is operated by Block by Block with funding from the City of Pittsburgh and community partners.

Eight trained full-time ambassadors, two supervisors, and a dispatch officer will work shifts seven days a week, between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., to deliver hospitality and public assistance, walking and biking patrols, monitoring, reporting, engagement with the street population, event support, and expanded outreach with local businesses.

The PDP is extremely grateful for the commitment and support of business and program partners who were instrumental to the successful launch of the Golden Triangle Ambassador program, including:

  • Benter Foundation
  • Buchanan Ingersoll
  • Buhl Foundation
  • Calgon Carbon
  • Citizens
  • City of Pittsburgh
  • Duquesne Light
  • Eden Hall Foundation
  • Giant Eagle
  • Highmark
  • Huntington
  • Koppers Inc.
  • Peoples Gas
  • PITT OHIO
  • PNC
  • PPG
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • UPMC

Contact Us:

Call or text Dispatch: (412) 855-6903 or email: dispatch@downtownpittsburgh.com
 Monday through Sunday, 7:00am – 11:00pm

For Emergencies, please call 911. For Police Non-Emergencies, please call 311.


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