Seattle's Pier 58 and Beyond: A Vision Realized Through Resilience and Community

Over the course of nearly two decades, Pier 58 and the Seattle Waterfront has undergone a remarkable transformation, culminating in a vibrant public space that reflects the spirit of the Emerald City. This ambitious project, a testament to perseverance and community collaboration, has brought new life to the heart of Seattle.

The renovated Pier 58 officially opened on July 25 this past summer, transforming the Waterfront Park into a vibrant urban space. The Pier, once a double-decker wooden structure from the early 1970s, was reimagined into an area for family activities and gorgeous structural and design elements that mark a new focal point for the city.

Angela Brady, Director of the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects for the City of Seattle, highlighted the numerous obstacles faced throughout the 15-year construction period. "We've had so many challenges over the years... and we couldn't have built any of this with the viaduct still in place? So that was a big challenge we had to overcome,” she said, emphasizing the impact of Covid and a six-to-nine-month concrete strike that were massive challenges the city managed to overcome during construction. 

A core principle guiding the waterfront's development was the creation of a space for everyone. Joy Shigaki, President and CEO of Friends of Waterfront Park, emphasized this vision. "One of the key goals of our work was to build a waterfront for all. And that means different things to different people? We want it to be accessible, we want it to be safe, but we also wanted it to be a place that people from all backgrounds, from all walks of life actually come down and feel like this was their place." 

Collaboration with Indigenous leaders was also crucial in integrating Coast Salish history and art into the park's design. "With the work that we did down here... we wanted it to be an engagement of culture,” Brady said. This included new artworks, such as a family of welcoming figures by Shaun Peterson, and incorporating historical narratives into the landscape and interpretive signage. 

Shigaki reiterated this dedication. "One of the commitments that we've continually made is ask. Because we're on Coast Salish land, how do we honor that history and how do we honor telling the stories that have been untold?” she said.

In partnership with Friends of the Waterfront, Director of Seattle Center Marshall Foster described a four-tiered approach, involving outreach workers for those in crisis, Friends of Waterfront Park ambassadors, a uniformed emergency services unit to enforce park rules, and finally the Seattle Police Department for serious situations. Shigaki further elaborated on the partnership with Seattle Center, which provides public safety, customer-facing support, maintenance, and operations. 

The Waterfront Park, including Pier 58 is envisioned as an engine for Downtown Seattle’s economic and cultural revitalization. Mayor Bruce Harrell emphasized the city's investment in small businesses and the goal of creating a buzz to attract visitors year-round. Shigaki echoed this, explaining the strategy to curate experiences that encourage visitors to explore surrounding neighborhoods like Belltown and Pioneer Square, fostering a "rediscovery of our downtown experience."

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