New Seattle waterfront park on Pier 58 will feature playground, event space, public restroom, more

Downtown Seattle's waterfront will be getting a new park for tourists and locals alike to enjoy.

The Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects announced Tuesday that it will begin construction on a new park on Pier 58 in late 2022, replacing the Waterfront Park which was removed last year after structural shifts caused a partial collapse. Construction is anticipated to take two years.

The pier will be rebuilt in a triangular shape with approximately the same square footage but will also feature an opening in the nearshore to improve salmon habitat. The new park will include a central event space, shady tree grove and elevated lawn to enjoy scenic views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. The existing fountain will also be restored and incorporated into the new park.

A new marine-themed playground will be constructed on the new pier, featuring a four-level jellyfish tower, climbing elements and more. The waterfront's promenade — which stretches from Pioneer Square to Pike Place Market — across from the new pier will include a new all-gender public restroom.

The construction strikes a hopeful note as the city is looking to bring back tourists to the downtown core following the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have seen our downtown re-energized the past few weeks with music, arts and culture," said Marshall Foster, Director of Seattle’s Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects, in a press release. "We are excited to be creating a great new park that will contribute to our city, and serve as an exciting new destination for Seattleites to enjoy our waterfront."

The new park on Pier 58 comes after the pier was dismantled following a partial collapse last year. Structural shifts in the old pier were discovered last August after a waterline failure. Engineers observed a visible gap between the pier and upland, prompting a temporary closure for structural analysis.

The city later announced that it would begin work to remove the damaged pier, expediting the waterfront redesign that was scheduled to begin in 2022. While work was being done to dismantle Pier 58, a section suddenly collapsed on Sept. 13, sending two construction workers to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition.

"Piers and other marine structures naturally deteriorate over time," said Jesús Aguirre, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent. "We’ve been monitoring this structure for many years in anticipation that it would eventually need to be replaced."

The collapse also impacted the privately-owned Pier 57, which includes tourist attractions such as Miner's Landing, Wings Over Washington and the Seattle Great Wheel. The neighboring pier reopened to the public in December. A rebuilt Pier 62 reopened in June 2020, providing more public waterfront space.