After years of development, 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 Emerald City. 

According to President and CEO of Friends of the Waterfront Joy Shigaki, the new urban park, including Pier 58, is expected to significantly boost tourism while fostering economic growth, job creation, and more space for children to feel welcome. Designers made a conscious effort to engage diverse communities and cultural groups, including local tribes and residents of the Rainier Valley, to ensure that the Waterfront incorporates tangible design elements that promote a sense of belonging for everyone, especially Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities of color.

Friends of Waterfront Park played a crucial role in activating Pier 58 and beyond, organizing a wide array of cultural events, music performances, and markets this summer and beyond. This new urban park is designed to evolve alongside the city, creating a positive experience that encourages people from all neighborhoods to revisit downtown and experience the joy, community, and connection Pier 58 now offers.

Catch Back2Besa every Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on FOX 13 Seattle and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on FOX 13+. Viewers can also stream episodes anytime on the FOX Local app.

#Back2Besa #WWConverge #BlackMediaMatters #FOX13Seattle #WaterfrontParkSeattle #Pier58