After two decades of planning, design, and construction, the City of Seattle and operating nonprofit Friends of Waterfront Park mark a new chapter in Seattle’s history.
Seattle’s new 20-acre public park welcomes visitors with performances, family activities, and community gatherings by the water.
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SEATTLE (September 6, 2025) – The City of Seattle, Friends of Waterfront Park, Tribal leaders, state representatives, and other community and civic partners celebrated the official completion of Seattle’s new Waterfront Park with a day-long community festival. This historic, multi-billion-dollar investment — the largest collection of civic projects since the 1962 World’s Fair — is the result of decades of collaboration among the City and its partners.
Stretching from Belltown to Pioneer Square, the new park transforms the former footprint of the Alaskan Way Viaduct into a vibrant public destination with green spaces, cultural experiences, bike and pedestrian access, and year-round programming — reconnecting downtown Seattle to Elliott Bay.
“Today we celebrate a historic moment for Seattle — the opening of a 20-acre waterfront park that reconnects our city to its shoreline and redefines how we gather, play, and celebrate together. This achievement is the product of decades of vision, commitment, and collaboration by community members, civic leaders, workers, and builders,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “Just as the Space Needle and Pike Place became symbols of Seattle to the world, this new waterfront will stand as a landmark of pride for Seattleites and Washingtonians for generations to come. I encourage everyone to come often, gather here, and make this waterfront part of your Seattle story.”
The opportunity to reimagine Seattle’s central shoreline was born out of crisis. The 2001 Nisqually earthquake revealed the seismic vulnerability of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the Elliott Bay Seawall. What began as a response to urgent safety concerns became a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild and reconnect the heart of the city to Elliott Bay.
Designed and constructed by the City’s Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects team, the complete waterfront redevelopment represents more than $4 billion total investment; including $806 million of public and private funding for the Waterfront Park Program, $410 million for the Elliott Bay Seawall project and $3.3 billion in State funding for the Alaskan Way Viaduct Program.
Seattle’s waterfront transformation is defined by a collection of interconnected public projects:
- Elliott Bay Seawall: Rebuilt with light-penetrating sidewalks, habitat benches, and textured panels that restore nearshore ecology and support juvenile salmon.
- Park Promenade: A 17-block pedestrian corridor with 1.2 miles of protected bike lanes, widened sidewalks, gardens and trees, and upgraded stormwater systems.
- Overlook Walk: A 60,000-square-foot elevated park linking Pike Place Market to the waterfront, bridging a 100-foot grade change with terraces, play areas, and views.
- Pier 58 & Pier 62: Rebuilt as flexible public spaces with play areas, restored historic features, with nearly 90,000 square feet of new gathering space.
- Alaskan Way & Elliott Way: A new 17-block surface roadway replacing the viaduct, with landscaped medians, bike and pedestrian lanes, and tens of thousands of plantings.
- Pedestrian Bridges & Streetscapes: New bridges at Marion and Union streets — with elevators and integrated art — plus Pioneer Square upgrades with raised crosswalks and curbless streets to improve safety and accessibility.
- Improved East-West Connections: Projects that better connect the waterfront to downtown neighborhoods through Pioneer Square, Belltown, and Pike-Pine corridor to Capitol Hill.
- Pioneer Square Habitat Beach & Washington Street Boat Landing: A naturalized shoreline and restored historic landing that nurtures marine life and invites people to the water’s edge.
Beyond the infrastructure, the project reflects Seattle’s values. It was shaped through decades of collaboration with Tribal partners, community members, civic leaders, and public servants, turning a public safety challenge into an opportunity to reimagine the city’s identity.
Arts and culture are central to the park. Through the city’s 1% for Art program, nine public artworks by 16 artists reflect the history, ecology, and communities of the waterfront. These pieces, along with performance areas and flexible plazas, ensure the space celebrates creativity and welcomes cultural programming year-round. At the same time, Waterfront Park supports the city’s broader downtown revitalization efforts by generating steady activity and drawing people back into the heart of the city. From daily use to community activations and large-scale events, the 20-acre park creates opportunities to experience the spirit of Seattle — its people, its music, its food, and its culture for residents and visitors alike.
In addition to these permanent works, Friends of Waterfront Park has and will continue to play a central role in shaping the park’s cultural life for generations to come. Formed in 2012 as the nonprofit steward of the park, Friends conducted a comprehensive $170 million dollar Campaign for Waterfront Park, which included $110 million towards construction costs for Waterfront Pak. Since 2020, they have partnered with hundreds of artists, cultural organizations, and community groups to bring free performances, festivals, and activations to the waterfront. Working hand-in-hand with Seattle Center—responsible for operations, maintenance, and public safety—the partnership ensures Waterfront Park remains a safe, vibrant, civic stage that reflects the diversity and creativity of Seattle.
Environmental stewardship is also foundational. Nearly 1,000 new trees and 150,000 plants have been added across the park, and stormwater systems now treat up to 7.5 million gallons annually before it reaches Elliott Bay. The design restores critical shoreline habitat, improves salmon migration pathways, and integrates natural landscapes into the city’s core.
Despite a pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and a regional concrete strike, the park’s completion is ready as Seattle prepares to be a North American host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and welcome visitors from around the globe. The new waterfront stands as a world-class civic stage while remaining, a source of lasting pride and daily enjoyment for residents of Seattle and the region.
Day-long celebration to commemorate this historic moment
Civic and community leaders kicked off the day’s celebrations with a ribbon cutting marking the completion of Seattle’s new Waterfront Park.
For this long-awaited moment, the City and managing nonprofit Friends of Waterfront Park organized a large-scale, free community event at the waterfront. The regional celebration is taking place from 11 AM to 9 PM today, features more than 100 community curators and partners, and over 60 performances and activations spanning Pier 62, Pier 58, the 17-block Park Promenade, and Overlook Walk.
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE WATERFRONT, CIVIC PROJECTS AND SOUND TRANSIT The City of Seattle’s Office of the Waterfront, Civic Projects and Sound Transit led all design and construction efforts for rebuilding Seattle’s central waterfront, a once-in-a-generation transformation that reshaped our public space and strengthened our city’s identity. This City team has designed and constructed more than 25 projects on the waterfront over the last 15 years, creating twenty acres of new public spaces that reconnect downtown to the waterfront providing a more accessible, green and active waterfront with a variety of spaces for people to recreate, relax and learn about the important history of the area. For more information visit www.seattle.gov/waterfront.
ABOUT FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT PARK Friends of Waterfront Park is a 501c3 non-profit responsible for managing, resourcing, programming, and stewarding Waterfront Park alongside our community – today and into the future. Friends is conducting a $170 million fundraising campaign for park construction costs and to support the last decade of Friends work to support public safety, operations, and free public programming. The campaign has raised $ (97% to goal) and we welcome the entire community to be part of this historic effort. Visit waterfrontparkseattle.org for more information on Friends of Waterfront Park and upcoming public events and programs at Waterfront Park.
ABOUT SEATTLE CENTER
Seattle Center is an active civic, arts, and family gathering place in the heart of Seattle. Its 74-acre campus, home to Climate Pledge Arena and over 30 cultural, educational, and entertainment organizations, offers a broad range of public and community programs. Seattle Center’s mission is to create exceptional events, experiences, and environments that delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities. Seattle Center has expanded its role to provide maintenance and public safety services for Seattle’s new Waterfront Park, a series of new public spaces on Seattle’s downtown waterfront between Pioneer Square and the Seattle Aquarium. Seattle Center supports managing these new waterfront public spaces in partnership with the non-profit Friends of Waterfront Park, which offers the community a range of recreational and cultural programming.
What People Are Saying
Chairperson Jaison Elkins, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe “The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe appreciates the early and sustained partnership with the City of Seattle and the Suquamish Tribe. We look forward to this celebration of our waterfront and to share our culture.”
Chairman Leonard Forsman, Suquamish Tribe “The Suquamish Tribe is excited to help celebrate the opening of Waterfront Park with the City of Seattle and Friends of Waterfront Park. The transformation of the waterfront into a place of reflection, recreation and learning is important for residents and visitors who access our ancestral waters, now known as Elliott Bay, where we still harvest salmon and other marine foods today. Our past leader, Chief Seattle, who gave his famous speech in his namesake city not far from here in 1855 before signing the Treaty would appreciate the traditional artwork, including the house post carved by Suquamish elder Randi Purser that depicts his mother holding him as an infant, displayed along the walkway and he would honor all of the people who worked to make this park a reality.”
Chris Gregoire, Former Washington State Governor “To Seattleites —this waterfront is yours to celebrate because you carried us through every milestone over the last two decades. What we built is more than infrastructure —it’s a generational gift, a legacy of possibility that will inspire Seattle for the next hundred years.”
Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth (District 3)
“I am so excited about the new Waterfront Park! It’s a place where all of us – residents and visitors – can check out new public spaces, have our kids climb on the play structure, swing on the swings, discover public art, or just sit and take in the waterfront’s natural beauty from Overlook Walk. It took years of hard work, and now we can all enjoy this completely transformed piece of Seattle for years to come.”
Angela Brady, Director of the Office of the Waterfront, Civic Projects and Sound Transit “This is an unforgettable and incredible moment for so many people. After years of community engagement, creative design, and dedicated construction, we completed Waterfront Park and now get to celebrate this achievement by and for all the people of Seattle. More than 15 years ago, we set out with a vision of creating a waterfront for all—accessible, safe, green, and welcoming. Today, that vision is a reality, and we’re excited to have the community celebrating and experiencing this once-in-a-generation transformation together.”
Marshall Foster, Director of Seattle Center “The opening of Waterfront Park is a once-in-a-generation milestone—showcasing Seattle’s creativity, collaboration, and bold vision. As we enjoy this Grand Opening, Seattle Center’s responsibility is clear: to help ensure this civic space remains safe, welcoming and vibrant for decades to come. From management to operations and public safety, Seattle Center is committed to ensuring Waterfront Park thrives as a welcoming waterfront for all.”
Gülgün Kayim, Director of the Office of Arts & Culture “Public art is layered, dynamic, and rooted in the people who live here. It is how the city tells its story. On the Seattle waterfront, each artwork is a chapter in a broader shared narrative about this place, reflecting our civic aspirations, honoring our diverse cultures, and inviting everyone to participate in the life of the city as it evolves.”
Joy Shigaki, CEO and President of Friends of Waterfront Park “This park is the result of people coming together — civic leaders, Tribal partners, artists, and community members — to imagine a waterfront that belongs to everyone,” said Joy Shigaki, President and CEO of Friends of Waterfront Park. “As the nonprofit steward, our mission is to ensure Waterfront Park is a vibrant, welcoming gathering space. Friends is honored to help steward this space and manage the park experience — from free cultural programming to daily amenities — so that it remains a place of connection, joy, and pride for generations to come.
Tim Kuniholm, Senior Director of Public Relations and Strategic Partnerships
“Everyone at the Seattle Aquarium is thrilled to celebrate the opening of the completed Waterfront Park. The Ocean Pavilion and the new Waterfront Park together create a one-of-a-kind destination on Seattle’s waterfront. We look forward to welcoming more locals and visitors from around the world to explore, learn, and connect with the Salish Sea and our one world ocean right here in the heart of our city.”
Emily Cantrell, President and CEO of Seafair “Seattle’s new waterfront has become a stage for the city. Whether it’s a big celebration or a small gathering, the waterfront offers a picture-perfect backdrop and a place where people can take in the views, grab a bite, and feel connected to downtown again. This revitalization is bringing a new sense of joy, pride, and energy to our community.”
Antonio Acosta, Regional Manager for the Western States Regional Council of Carpenter
“The Seattle Waterfront Projects have been nothing short of transformative, not just for our members and their families, but for the entire community. Hundreds of union carpenters dedicated thousands of hours to bring this vision to life, and in doing so, they’ve built more than a landmark, they’ve built opportunity. These projects open doors for the next generation: creating apprenticeship pathways, family-wage careers, world-class benefits, and even debt-free college credits. They’ve helped our members buy their first homes, support their families, and lay foundations for lasting stability and pride. This is what building community looks like. This is how generational wealth begins. The Seattle waterfront stands as a legacy of what’s possible when we invest in people, in good jobs, and in the future of Seattle. And we’re just getting started.”