Visitors at Pier 62 enjoy a cloudless summer day at Pier 62 as they sit and watch a performance by Cuban Son group, SuperSones.

Supersones performance at Spotlight on the Waterfront 2023. Photo by Jo Cosme.

Who We Are

Friends of Waterfront Park 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 Park’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 $170M to support programming, construction, public safety and maintenance at Waterfront Park.

The City of Seattle began construction of the park after the Viaduct’s removal in 2019. The first pieces of the park — Pier 62 and Pioneer Square Habitat Beach — are 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 Park 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.

Board

Carol Binder

Community Volunteer

Karla Brollier

Home Planet Fund & Ahtna Athabascan

Tom Byers

Cedar River Group

Chris DeVore

Founders’ Co-op

Leonard Forsman

The Suquamish Tribe

Kevin Geiger

Blue Wave

Olive Goh

JP Morgan Home Bank

Patrick Gordon

ZGF Architects LLP

Mike Halperin

Hg Catalyst Project

Sandra Jackson-Dumont (special advisor)

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

Michaela Raikes

Highline Public Schools

Saema Somalya

Remitly

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 Events and Stewardship Manager

Tom Beck

Data Systems Analyst

Brianna Browne

Programs Manager

Richelle Dickerson

Assistant Director of People & Culture

Angela Escudero

Digital Marketing Manager

Antinee Phongvichit Eteaki

Event and Facility Operations Lead

Denise Evans

Assistant Director of Accounting and Finance

Kelli Faryar

Senior Programs Manager

Alex Harding

Production Manager

Frederick Hagreen

Executive Assistant

Laura Hendrichsen

Event Production and Site Manager

Yoon Kang-O'Higgins

Senior Director of Community Impact and Programs

Marie Kidhe

Strategic Partnerships Consultant

Kjerstin Laine

Senior Manager of Annual Giving

Maria Lopez

Public Safety Manager

Jessica Lotz

Community Impact and Programs Coordinator

Jason Merges

Senior Content and Marketing Manager

Mark Meuter

Senior Production Manager

Jamala Myres

Facilities On-Site Operations Manager

Anna O'Donnell

Chief Philanthropy Officer

Kelsey Oliver-Connelly

Operations and Administrative Coordinator

Nico Onoda-McGuire

Senior Manager of Community Impact

Jordan Remington

Programs Manager and Curator of Indigenous Programs

Maria Reyna

Assistant Director of Community Impact and Programs

Elyse Rickard

Philanthropy Database Coordinator

Sequoia Selah

Administrative Assistant, Community Impact and Programs

Shiva Shafii

Director of Marketing and Communications

Joy Shigaki

President & CEO

Joey Smith

Assistant Director of Philanthropy

Eldon Tam

Chief Operating Officer

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 Park 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.

Karama Blackhorn (Squaxin)

Member

Felicia Bryan (Chinook)

Member

Wesley Edminister (Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe)

Member

Deborah Guerrero MSW (Tlingit, Filipino, Cowlitz, Snoqualmie, French Canadian First Nations, Irish, German)

Member

Carolyn Hartness (Eastern Band Cherokee/Norwegian)

Member

Karen Johnson (Squamish, Indopino)

Member

Jessica Juarez-Wagner

Potlatch Fund Representative

Ellany Kayce (Tlingit)

Member

Mercedes Luna (Tlingit/Japanese/Filipino)

Member

Megan McDermott (Little Shell Chippewa, Blackfeet, Cree)

Member

Jordan Remington (Quileute)

Facilitator

Tiarraray Square (St. Regis Mohawk Tribe)

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

Tareq Fayyad

Member

Priya Frank

Member

Olive Goh

Member

Ashraf Hasham

Member

Margo Jones

Member

David Kim

Member

Victor Loo

Member

Carolina Lope

Member

Brittney Nitta-Lee

Member

Eze Oluo

Member

Taelore Rhoden

Member

Sina Sam

Member

Melody Xie

Member

Work With Us

See our listings below for open employment opportunities.

The Associate Director of Data Systems reports directly to the COO, and will lead Friends in developing, elevating, and enhancing data systems that will help communicate Friends’ work with internal and external stakeholders and measure progress and impact toward strategic initiatives and park opening. This position will oversee a variety of data collection and analysis initiatives, collaborating across departments to ensure data quality and cohesion in data use and reporting.

The Social Media Manager and Writer is a new, 2-year term limited position to support Friends of Waterfront Park’s strategic efforts as the organization nears the Grand Opening of Seattle’s new downtown Waterfront Park, lasting through December 2026. This role is essential in shaping and sharing the voice of Friends, engaging with our vibrant community, and elevating the public’s connection to Waterfront Park.

Want to bring an event to Waterfront Park? Follow the link below for more information about our rental program.

Resources

Download more information on the design, history, and community partners behind Waterfront Park.

Press & Media

Watch Seattle’s Newest Park Transform the City

The Seattle Times
August 23, 2024

Learn More

Seattle’s Waterfront Park Enhances Safety with Minimal Police Intervention

Puget Sound Business Journal
July 28, 2024

Learn More

20-Acre Waterfront Park to Bring Added Outdoor Space to Seattle Community

The Registry
March 26, 2024

Learn More

Seattle Waterfront Park Project Finally Enters Its Home Stretch
The Urbanist — March 20, 2024

Joy Shigaki: Seattle’s Most Influential
Seattle Magazine — January 8, 2024

Seattle intends to revamp its waterfront parks network in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
American City and Country — August 31, 2023

Seattle’s downtown revitalization push continues with waterfront parks overhaul
Smart Cities Dive — August 29, 2023

Melinda French Gates, Mackenzie Scott, Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg Combine Forces to Restore Seattle’s Waterfront
Barron's Penta — August 29, 2023

Hōkūleʻa crew pays tribute to victims in deadly Lāhainā wildfire during its stop in Washington State
Kaua'i Now — August 28, 2023

Giving Pledgers to fund Seattle waterfront projects ahead of World Cup
Philanthropy News Digest — August 28, 2023

$45M public-private partnership aims to revitalize Seattle waterfront
The Center Square — August 25, 2023

City, Port of Seattle Announce Public–Private Partnership to Revitalize Parks on Elliott Bay Waterfront
The Registry — August 23, 2023

New initiative looks to improve parks, accessibility along Seattle’s Elliott Bay
Fox13 — August 23, 2023

Melinda French Gates, MacKenzie Scott among backers of new waterfront parks plan
Puget Sound Business Journal — August 23, 2023

Melinda French Gates, MacKenzie Scott join $45M effort to connect and revitalize Seattle waterfront
GeekWire — August 23, 2023

Melinda French Gates, MacKenzie Scott to help transform Seattle waterfront
Seattle Times — August 23, 2023

Seattle’s free waterfront shuttle returns to service
Fox 13 Seattle — July 17, 2023

Indigiqueer Festival Returns for Second Year at Pier 62
The Stranger — June 21, 2023

Indigiqueer Festival Celebrates Pride with Indigenous Drag, Art, Dance, and More at Pier 62
South Seattle Emerald — June 16, 2023

PHOTO ESSAY | Massive Monkees Day 2023
South Seattle Emerald — May 31, 2023

2023年Waterfront Park音樂、藝術和社區活動日曆
Seattle Chinese Times — May 17, 2023

FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT SEATTLE ANNOUNCES 2023 CALENDAR OF MUSIC, ARTS, & COMMUNITY EVENTS AT WATERFRONT PARK
Converge Media — May 16, 2023

New street signs honor first name of Seattle’s waterfront: Dzidzilalich
Seattle Times — April 24, 2023

Seattle Office of Arts & Culture Nurtures Neighborhood Recovery with $1.1M Activation Fund
Art Beat Blog — April 4, 2023

Seattle Center Expands Role to include Managing Waterfront Park Operations in Partnership with Friends of Waterfront Seattle
Center Spotlight — January 24, 2023

Waterfront Seattle to Kick Off 2023 Events with Lunar New Year
The Urbanist — January 12, 2023

Transformative waterfront park to be completed in 2025
NW Asian Weekly — November 23, 2022

Revitalization of Seattle waterfront takes shape after more than a decade of construction
Puget Sound Business Journal — November 7, 2022

Shigaki is Friends of Waterfront Seattle’s new CEO
NW Asian Weekly — September 16, 2022

Seattle’s Waterfront is transforming and UW’s tentacles are all over it
UW Magazine — September 1, 2022

How Seattle’s new waterfront could boost a battered downtown and impact tech companies
GeekWire — April 14, 2022

A day out on the Seattle waterfront with kids
Seattle's Child — March 31, 2022

Seattle Waterfront: What’s new and what’s planned for family fun
Seattle's Child — March 31, 2022

In Waterfront Park, the seeds of a better Seattle
The Seattle Times — March 18, 2022

Amazon pledges $5M to help support ongoing construction of Seattle’s new Waterfront Park
Seattle Pi — December 9, 2021

‘Reflections’ Dance Festival: A Gift of Indigenous and African American Solidarity
South Seattle Emerald — November 3, 2021

Maggie Walker anticipates the construction of Seattle’s Waterfront Park
Puget Sound Business Journal — September 10, 2021

Pier 62 Shows Seattle in Its Best Light
Seattle Met — March 2, 2021

Seattle’s newest waterfront public space has finally opened
Seattle Urbanized — September 21, 2020

The Future Of Art Is Collaboration: A Conversation With Takiyah Ward
South Seattle Emerald — August 16, 2020

Salmon swim past downtown along new ‘highway’ for fish
Seattle Times — June 4, 2019

New study: Waterfront park is Seattle’s new weapon to retain tech talent
Puget Sound Business Journal — March 11, 2019

A Bold New Waterfront Is Coming to Seattle Soon
Seattle Magazine — March 1, 2019

Waterfront Park fits how Seattle lives, works
Daily Journal of Commerce — February 28, 2019

Opinion: Shared investments show Seattle at its best
Puget Sound Business Journal — February 20, 2019

Friends of Waterfront Seattle Incubates Small Business to Promote Equity February 2019
Puget Sound Business Journal — February 20, 2019

Will we really have a ‘Waterfront for All’?
Daily Journal of Commerce — December 5, 2018

$45M public-private partnership aims to revitalize Seattle waterfront
Queen Anne & Magnolia News —

For media inquiries, please contact Shiva Shafii at [email protected].

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