Seattle Waterfront Stories
Opening day announced for Seattle’s Pier 58 featuring jellyfish playground, restored fountain
Seattle will transform its waterfront with sweeping project when viaduct comes down
Seattle Aquarium expansion is latest addition to waterfront revitalization project
Long-awaited Seattle Overlook Walk opens Friday
5K race celebrates the revitalization of Waterfront Park
Builder remembers good times and tragedy as viaduct becomes part of 'Vanishing Seattle'
KIRO 7 Exclusive: Seattle Aquarium welcomes new creatures to Ocean Pavilion expansion
People stop, watch final piece of Viaduct along waterfront come down
Seattle Aquarium's Ocean Pavilion timelapse
Exclusive look at new Ocean Pavilion at Seattle Aquarium ahead of its opening
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Seattle Waterfront Safety & Accessibility
Waterfront Park is an all-inclusive park. Seating is wheelchair-friendly, and the restrooms are both ADA accessible and gender-neutral.
Public elevators to reach the waterfront can be found at Overlook Walk, Pike Place Market Garage, Union St., Lenora St., and Bell St.
The Overlook Walk features wheelchair and stroller-accessible ramps, ensuring everyone can enjoy the space.
The area features protected two-way bike lanes and pedestrian boardwalks, connecting the 20 acres of the park.
Railroad Way South offers a safe pedestrian connection to the stadiums.
Public elevators to reach the waterfront can be found at Overlook Walk, Pike Place Market Garage, Union St., Lenora St., and Bell St.
The Overlook Walk features wheelchair and stroller-accessible ramps, ensuring everyone can enjoy the space.
The area features protected two-way bike lanes and pedestrian boardwalks, connecting the 20 acres of the park.
Railroad Way South offers a safe pedestrian connection to the stadiums.
A History of the Seattle Waterfront
1950: The viaduct was built in three phases from 1949 to 1959. The first section opened in April of 1953.
2009: The Central Waterfront Committee was formed, thanks to a city ordinance. The goal was to advise on public spaces and framework for Seattle’s waterfront design.
2010: James Corner Field Operations won an international competition to work with the city to design Seattle’s Waterfront Park. It’s the same group that designed the Highline in New York City.
2011: The Central Waterfront Committee adopted guiding principles to advance the project and began to gather feedback from the community.
2012: In July, James Corner Field Operations used the input gathered from the community to design the Waterfront Park Concept. The Central Waterfront Committee also rolled out its Strategic Plan. In August, the Seattle City Council adopted both. In November, 77% of Seattle voters approved a $290 million bond to replace the Elliot Bay Seawall.
2013: Construction began on the new seawall.
2014: In August, the Metropolitan Park District, approved by Seattle voters, designated $3.5 million in annual support for Waterfront Park operations and maintenance. In September, Friends of Waterfront Seattle, which is now Friends of Waterfront Park, was established. The group, along with the city, opened Waterfront Space, a public project showroom, event space, and headquarters.
2016: The concept design process began for expanding the Seattle Aquarium. City Council approved the Pier 62 rebuild project. This meant a piece of the Waterfront Park would be completed early.
2017: The Elliot Bay Seawall replacement project is finished, and workers broke ground on the Pier 62 rebuild project.
2019: The Alaskan Way Viaduct closed and was removed, and the new SR-99 Tunnel opened. The City Council enacted the Local Improvement District to fund the park. Waterfront Park construction began.
2020: The newly rebuilt Pier 62 opened to the public. It featured seating, space for free community events, and a floating dock.
2021: In July, the area saw its first season of free community events curated by Friends of Waterfront Park. The events included Waba Korea K-Brand Expo and Festival, a Bollywood Dance Choreography Class, HIIT the Pier, DropSound Yoga and Meditation, Skate Like A Girl and Downtown Summer Sounds Concerts. In October, the first Pier Sounds concert series began. It was three days of live music, local food trucks, and a beer garden. The series included regional bands and artists such as The Black Tones, D’Vonne Lewis and Friends, Lady A and Tiffany Wilson. The series is a nod to the 1990s iconic Summer Nights at the Pier.
2022: In July, Friends of Waterfront Park hosted its first Waterfront Block Party on Pier 62. The inaugural event featured live music, dancing, parades, food trucks, and a beer garden. In December, the Union Street Staircase opened. It connects downtown and Pike Place Market to the waterfront. It features two large scale art installations by Norie Sato.
2023: In May, Elliot Way opened with the honorary name Dzidzilalich, which means ‘little crossing-over place’ in the Lushootseed language of the Coast Salish People. In July, Pioneer Square Habitat Beach, south of Colman Dock, opened. The man-made beach supports the waterfront ecosystem, enhancing the corridor for salmon. In the fall, Friends of Waterfront Park hosted their first Pier Party fundraising event on Pier 62. The Railroad Way South plazas opened to the public to be used for sports fan celebrations and other events.
2024: In August, Friends of Waterfront Park worked with Kimberly Saladin to present her art to the public in the inaugural exhibition. It showcased the diversity, strength, and resilience of the Native People of the region. In October, the Overlook Walk was completed and opened. It’s a direct pedestrian bridge from Pike Place Market to Waterfront Park.
2025: In March, protected bike lanes and pedestrian boardwalks opened to the public. They connect the 20 acres of Waterfront Park. Swing sets near Colman Dock also were completed. Public restrooms on the Promenade near Pier 58 opened. It’s the first open-air, six-stalled, all-gendered facility in the area. Later in 2025, the Historic Washington Street Boat Landing Pergola, Pier 58, and Overlook Walk Café will open.
2009: The Central Waterfront Committee was formed, thanks to a city ordinance. The goal was to advise on public spaces and framework for Seattle’s waterfront design.
2010: James Corner Field Operations won an international competition to work with the city to design Seattle’s Waterfront Park. It’s the same group that designed the Highline in New York City.
2011: The Central Waterfront Committee adopted guiding principles to advance the project and began to gather feedback from the community.
2012: In July, James Corner Field Operations used the input gathered from the community to design the Waterfront Park Concept. The Central Waterfront Committee also rolled out its Strategic Plan. In August, the Seattle City Council adopted both. In November, 77% of Seattle voters approved a $290 million bond to replace the Elliot Bay Seawall.
2013: Construction began on the new seawall.
2014: In August, the Metropolitan Park District, approved by Seattle voters, designated $3.5 million in annual support for Waterfront Park operations and maintenance. In September, Friends of Waterfront Seattle, which is now Friends of Waterfront Park, was established. The group, along with the city, opened Waterfront Space, a public project showroom, event space, and headquarters.
2016: The concept design process began for expanding the Seattle Aquarium. City Council approved the Pier 62 rebuild project. This meant a piece of the Waterfront Park would be completed early.
2017: The Elliot Bay Seawall replacement project is finished, and workers broke ground on the Pier 62 rebuild project.
2019: The Alaskan Way Viaduct closed and was removed, and the new SR-99 Tunnel opened. The City Council enacted the Local Improvement District to fund the park. Waterfront Park construction began.
2020: The newly rebuilt Pier 62 opened to the public. It featured seating, space for free community events, and a floating dock.
2021: In July, the area saw its first season of free community events curated by Friends of Waterfront Park. The events included Waba Korea K-Brand Expo and Festival, a Bollywood Dance Choreography Class, HIIT the Pier, DropSound Yoga and Meditation, Skate Like A Girl and Downtown Summer Sounds Concerts. In October, the first Pier Sounds concert series began. It was three days of live music, local food trucks, and a beer garden. The series included regional bands and artists such as The Black Tones, D’Vonne Lewis and Friends, Lady A and Tiffany Wilson. The series is a nod to the 1990s iconic Summer Nights at the Pier.
2022: In July, Friends of Waterfront Park hosted its first Waterfront Block Party on Pier 62. The inaugural event featured live music, dancing, parades, food trucks, and a beer garden. In December, the Union Street Staircase opened. It connects downtown and Pike Place Market to the waterfront. It features two large scale art installations by Norie Sato.
2023: In May, Elliot Way opened with the honorary name Dzidzilalich, which means ‘little crossing-over place’ in the Lushootseed language of the Coast Salish People. In July, Pioneer Square Habitat Beach, south of Colman Dock, opened. The man-made beach supports the waterfront ecosystem, enhancing the corridor for salmon. In the fall, Friends of Waterfront Park hosted their first Pier Party fundraising event on Pier 62. The Railroad Way South plazas opened to the public to be used for sports fan celebrations and other events.
2024: In August, Friends of Waterfront Park worked with Kimberly Saladin to present her art to the public in the inaugural exhibition. It showcased the diversity, strength, and resilience of the Native People of the region. In October, the Overlook Walk was completed and opened. It’s a direct pedestrian bridge from Pike Place Market to Waterfront Park.
2025: In March, protected bike lanes and pedestrian boardwalks opened to the public. They connect the 20 acres of Waterfront Park. Swing sets near Colman Dock also were completed. Public restrooms on the Promenade near Pier 58 opened. It’s the first open-air, six-stalled, all-gendered facility in the area. Later in 2025, the Historic Washington Street Boat Landing Pergola, Pier 58, and Overlook Walk Café will open.
