When the Nisqually earthquake rattled Seattle and the broader region in 2001, it set in motion a comprehensive effort to reimagine our waterfront and remove a massive 1950’s highway that divided our downtown.   After decades of advocacy by the community, Friends, and civic leaders, boring machine breakdowns that delayed the new HW 99 tunnel, and a massive fundraising effort, Waterfront Park has been fully come to life. All 20 acres of new public …

Blog Summary: Former Friends board chair Maggie Walker was named a 2026 Hero of the Deep by the Seattle Kraken and One Roof Foundation, recognized for her decades of civic leadership, philanthropic investment and steadfast commitment to inclusion and equity in public spaces. Friends public programs manager and Indigenous programs curator Jordan Remington received the same honor …

Waterfront Park was always meant to be a place to lounge, linger and belong. In Seattle, that same feeling often happens with coffee. Cafés are natural connectors—built on rich aromas, shared tables and easy conversation. In East Africa, coffee carries that same spirit. It’s not just a drink; it’s a daily ritual that brings people together. That’s why …

Editor’s Note: This is a blog post from the Waterfront Seattle Program. The Waterfront Seattle Program is a collaboration between the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects and City of Seattle departments including the Mayor’s Office, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Planning and Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Office of Arts & Culture, Seattle Center and …

Blog Summary: Waterfront Park’s first Grand Opening Season welcomed millions of visits, signaling its arrival as a true everyday gathering place for Seattle, region and beyond. Free, community-centered programs and partnerships brought culture, accessibility, and belonging to life across all 20 acres. With the Park now complete, Friends of Waterfront Park is focused on long-term stewardship—caring for this …

By Kjerstin Laine, Senior Manager of Annual Giving Though Seattle is notoriously a bit dark this time of year, there are so many bright moments happening throughout Waterfront Park this rainy season: saunas and firepits on Pier 62, cozy game day tailgates at Stadium Plaza, enjoying a coffee while taking a walk on the Promenade …

Waterfront Park has always been about more than new paths, plazas, and viewpoints. It’s about what happens when people finally get to meet their city at the Salish Sea. From 2012 to 2025, Friends of Waterfront Park worked with the City of Seattle, partners, and residents to turn that idea into reality—raising $170 million, convening …

Blog Summary: Friends of Waterfront Park has completed the $170 million Campaign for Waterfront Park, the largest philanthropic campaign for public space in Seattle’s history. With the park now open, we’re stepping fully into our new role as its nonprofit steward and year-round host. The celebration doesn’t stop here—gifts to the Annual Fund will help …