The future Waterfront Park will span 20 acres along Seattle’s downtown shoreline. A constellation of lush, open public spaces linked together by a pedestrian-oriented promenade, Waterfront Park welcomes and encourages the public to come together.
From dynamic open spaces with free, rotating activities and events, to coastline habitats for learning and exploration, to peaceful landscaped seating areas for a natural respite from the urban hustle and bustle, Waterfront Park has something for everyone. Stretching from the Pioneer Square to Belltown neighborhoods, Waterfront Park reactivates Seattle’s exceptional urban shoreline, creating a new public place that reconnects the city to its surrounding natural environment.
Emerging out of 10 years of public comment, the completed design of Waterfront Park emphasizes connectivity — between people and place, past and present, sea and shore. This is a park for Seattle locals and visitors alike, with lively gathering spaces and year-round educational and recreational park programs celebrating the diverse cultures that define the Pacific Northwest.
A salmon-friendly seawall and expansive natural landscaping with biofiltration support a sustainable nearshore environment, building lasting connections between the city and Elliott Bay and creating an accessible and inspired new waterfront district. This extraordinary park is a tribute to the people, landscapes, and traditions that define Seattle.
More details about the park:
- Designed by James Corner Field Operations, Waterfront Park stitches together Seattle waterfront landmarks including the historic Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, Colman Dock, and the Olympic Sculpture Park.
- Waterfront Park introduces new bicycle and walking trails along the shoreline, expanding Seattle’s robust network of bike- and pedestrian-oriented corridors.
- The shoreline ecosystem and innovative, sustainable design is a key focus for Waterfront Park, helping support the environmental health of Seattle’s waterfront.
- Throughout its history, Seattle’s waterfront has been shaped by its uses including ship building, fishing, canning, trading, and transportation. Waterfront Park represents the latest chapter in the history of this working waterfront as it evolves to meet a new cultural need for the larger Seattle community.
- The first piece of Waterfront Park, Pier 62, is opening soon. Construction will continue on the rest of Waterfront Park with completion in 2025.
For details on Waterfront Park’s project delivery and construction information, visit waterfrontseattle.org.
Timeline
A New Era For Seattle & Its Waterfront
With Waterfront Park, Seattle’s residents are making a conscious choice about how to improve the waterfront to best serve the community and the environment. Shaped by tens of thousands of voices gathered through a rigorous public process, Waterfront Park fulfills the community’s vision for a central waterfront for all of Seattle.
The design for this 20-acre linear park responds to the public’s overwhelming call for an open, accessible waterfront — one that reconnects the city to its coastline just as it restores the health of the nearshore environment. Through years of unprecedented collaboration between government officials, community leaders, tribes, businesses, and the public at large, Seattle’s new waterfront is taking shape to be more than a park. It is a welcoming, engaging framework that can meet the ever-evolving needs of the communities it serves.
For details on Waterfront Park’s project delivery and construction information, visit waterfrontseattle.org.
December 2009
The Central Waterfront Committee (CWC) is formed by a City ordinance to advise on public spaces and framework for Seattle’s waterfront design.
September 2010
James Corner Field Operations (JCFO) wins international competition to work with the City to design Seattle’s waterfront park (also designed the Highline in NYC).
January 2011
Seattle City Council creates Central Waterfront Committee (CWC) adopts guiding principles to advance the project (co-chaired by former Seattle Mayor, Charles Royer, and Maggie Walker). Broad public outreach with wide-ranging community participation to design waterfront park begins.
July 2012
Informed by community input, Waterfront Park Concept designed by JCFO and CWC Strategic Plan rolls out.
August
City Council adopts JCFO concept design and CWC strategic plan.
November
77% of Seattle voters approve $290M seawall bond to replace the Elliott Bay Seawall.
November 2013
Seawall construction begins.
August 2014
Metropolitan Park District (MPD) approved by Seattle voters: designates $3.5M in annual support for waterfront park operations and maintenance.
September
Friends of Waterfront Seattle established. Friends of Waterfront Seattle and City open Waterfront Space, a public project showroom, event space, and Friends’ headquarters.
March 2015
Council action authorizes Pike Place Market expansion, MarketFront, with $34M in City funding; MarketFront will connect to the future waterfront, making it an expansion enabled by the park project.
June
Pike Place Market’s MarketFront groundbreaking.
August
Seattle Aquarium Master Plan expansion approved by Mayor and City Council.
Early 2016
Seattle Aquarium expansion concept design begins.
July
City Council approves the Pier 62 Rebuild project, allowing Friends and City to deliver a piece of the waterfront park early.
June 2017
Pike Place Market’s expansion, MarketFront, opens.
Fall
Groundbreaking for Pier 62 rebuild. Elliott Bay Seawall replacement project is complete.
2017-18
Local Improvement District (LID) outreach to property owners; the LID is an important funding piece for the waterfront park through assessments of specially benefitted properties
Early 2019
Viaduct closes / Tunnel opens.
City Council enacts Local Improvement District to fund park.
Fall
Alaskan Way Viaduct is removed; waterfront park construction begins.
Fall 2020
Rebuilt Pier 62 opens to public.
December 2022
Union Street Staircase opens, connecting downtown and Pike Place Market to the Waterfront. It features two large scale art installations by Norie Sato.
May 2023
Elliott Way opens with the honorary name Dzidzilalich which means “little crossing-over place” in the Lushootseed language of the Coast Salish People
Image courtesy of the City of Seattle and James Corner Field Operations
2023 to 2025
Many parts of Waterfront Park open, the entire park build will be complete by 2025!
What do you want to see, eat, and do on the waterfront?
Want to plan an event? Have an idea for an activity? We want to hear from you! Waterfront Park is committed to serving the needs of its diverse communities through cultural, educational, and recreational activities in a beautiful, welcoming environment.