Waterfront Park

Who We Are

Friends of Waterfront Seattle is a 501c3 not for profit responsible for fundraising, stewarding, and programming at Waterfront Park alongside our community – today and into the future.

Dedicated to a renewed place to connect — to the water, to the mountains, to our city, and to one another.

In deep collaboration with individuals, communities, and institutional partners, Friends of Waterfront Seattle’s mission is creating, caring for, and activating a renewed place of connection on Seattle’s central shoreline. As the non-profit partner, Friends is continuing to raise $200M to support programming, construction, public safety and maintenance at Waterfront Park.

Park construction began following the Viaduct’s removal in 2017 and the first piece of the park — Pier 62 — is now open for the public to enjoy.

Watch the 2023 Events Thank You Video

The vision for Waterfront Park was conceived through a community‑wide effort.

Friends is a member of the High Line Network, a movement in cities across the world to reclaim underutilized infrastructure and re-imagine it as public space.

A core promise of Friends of Waterfront Seattle is to activate and program Waterfront Park; to make this new public space meaningful to the community that lives here. The city opened Pier 62 in September 2020, and Friends has been piloting programs ever since, bringing arts and culture, education, and recreation to the waterfront.

Read Our Gratitude Report Here Learn About Our Community Partnership Committees

Board

Mary Bass

Wells Fargo

Carol Binder

Community Volunteer

Tom Byers

Cedar River Group

Chris DeVore

Founders’ Co-op

Leonard Forsman

The Suquamish Tribe

Olive Goh

Citi Private Bank

Paul Goodrich

Madrona Venture Group

Patrick Gordon

ZGF Architects LLP

Sandra Jackson-Dumont

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

Falona Joy

SNP Strategies, Inc.

Martha Kongsgaard

Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation

Dan Kully

Kully Maeder Muir

Carla Lewis

Community Volunteer

Lori Metcalf

Seattle Academy

John Nesholm

LMN Architects

Jeannie Nordstrom

Community Volunteer

Stuart Rolfe

Wright Hotels, Inc.

Charley Royer (emeritus)

Former Seattle Mayor

Kayley Runstad Swan

Hamlin Robinson School

Ryan Smith

Martin Smith, Inc.

Julie K. Stein

Burke Museum, University of Washington

Hewan Teshome

Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle Kraken

Louie Ungaro

The Muckleshoot Tribe

Maggie Walker

The Walker Family Foundation

Brady Piñero Walkinshaw

Earth Alliance

Charles Wright

Merrill Gardens, LLC

Leadership

Priyanka Anand

Philanthropy Coordinator

Tom Beck

Data Systems Analyst

Blake Bowers

People & Culture Manager

Brianna Browne

Public Programs Manager

Lilia Deering

Assistant Production Manager

Richelle Dickerson

Executive Assistant

Angela Escudero

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Kelli Faryar

Public Programs Manager

Alex Harding

Assistant Production Manager

Laura Hendrichsen

Facilities On-Site Operations Supervisor

Yoon Kang-O'Higgins

Director of Public Programs

Marie Kidhe

Director of Community Relations & Strategic Investments

Oona Kilcommons

Seasonal Park Operations Assistant

Kjerstin Laine

Membership Manager

Maria Lopez

Public Safety Manager

Jessica Lotz

Community & Outreach Coordinator

Jason Merges

Communications Content Manager

Mark Meuter

Production Manager

Jamala Myres

Facilities On-Site Operations Manager

Anna O'Donnell

Chief Philanthropy Officer

Kelsey Oliver-Connelly

Office & Administrative Assistant

Nico Onoda-McGuire

Assistant Director of Community Engagement

Cody Purchase

Event & Facility Operations Assistant

Jordan Remington

Public Programs Manager and Curator of Indigenous Programs

Maria Reyna

Assistant Director of Programs

Joy Shigaki

President & CEO

Joey Smith

Assistant Director of Philanthropy

Michael Snuttjer

Facilities On-Site Operations Supervisor

Amanda Streams

Director of Park Experience & Operations

Eldon Tam

Chief Operating Officer

Chelsea Wong

Community Engagement Administrator

Yiling Wong

Park Marketing Manager

Pulling Together Committee

The Pulling Together Committee convenes members of our local Tribal leaders, community members, and Urban Natives from the greater Puget Sound region to support the goals and objectives of Friends of Waterfront Seattle through the inclusion of Indigenous voices, values, and interests by assessing Friends’ community engagement and partnerships efforts, public programs, events, and activities at Seattle’s Waterfront. Learn more.

John Bailey (Muckleshoot)

Member

Karama Blackhorn (Squaxin)

Member

Mark Colson (Chehalis & Skokomish)

Member

Gina Corpuz (Indipino)

Member

Jessica Hernandez (Binnizá & Maya Ch’orti’)

Member

Jessica Juarez-Wagner

Potlatch Fund Representative

Ellany Kayce (Tlingit)

Member

Melanie Montgomery (Quinault)

Member

Mercedes Luna (Tlingit/Japanese/Filipino)

Member

Jordan Remington (Quileute)

Facilitator

Tim Reynon (Puyallup)

Member

Ixtli White Hawk (Mexico/Indo Pochteca)

Member

Edna Wyena (Yakima & Muckleshoot)

Member

Community Connections Committee

The Community Connections Committee convenes individuals from various communities throughout Seattle and the Puget Sound region, who are exclusively from marginalized groups and/or identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. C3 is also joined by two additional members of the Friends’ board to oversee and advance Friends’ inclusion and social equity efforts on the Board of Directors level. Learn more.

Rosendo Ayala

Member

Tom Byers

Member

Velma Chaney

Member

Amy Cheng

Member

Timothy Corey

Facilitator

Sarneshea Evans

Facilitator

Priya Frank

Member

Olive Goh

Member

Joseph Guanlao

Member

Angela Hewitson

Member

Margo Jones

Member

Britt Lê

Member

Victor Loo

Member

Eze Oluo

Member

Jaykub Rafael

Member

Taelore Rhoden

Member

Sina Sam

Member

José Vázquez

Member

Tracey Wong

Member

Work With Us

See our listings below for open employment opportunities.

Interested in vending on Pier 62? Learn about partnering with us as a vendor!

: The Director of Marketing and Communications will lead efforts in elevating marketing, communications and public relations, and digital engagement strategies to advance Friends brand awareness, commitment, and loyalty. They will be an experienced connector who leverages data and understands how audiences engage across multi-channel approaches. The Director will partner closely with the CEO. They will be a core member of Friends’ senior leadership team to strengthen Friends’ reach and brand in Seattle, advance the Campaign for Waterfront Park, annual fundraising, events, and beyond. This position will have direct reports on the Marketing and Communications team.

Learn More
: Would you like to sell your products and / or services at Waterfront Park?

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