Rose Marie Zacek Interview
Rose Marie Zacek (1948-2023) discusses her West Side experiences, from her childhood growing up on the West Side to becoming one of the founders and active members of the West Side Neighborhood Association, founded in 1994. While discussing the immigration of her parents from Poland to the United States, Rose describes her family and how they were initially marginalized in Saratoga Springs because both her parents were deaf and non-speaking. She recounts stories of her childhood home and how she interacted and communicated with her parents, while also reflecting on instances of discrimination her parents were subjected to when Rose and her siblings were children. Rose also paints a picture of a transitional time in Saratoga Springs history during the 1980s and 1990s. The West Side Beautification project was undertaken to preserve green spaces and limit traffic in certain areas, based on earlier frustrations in which the development was limited by city officials.
