Grand Reopening
We were thrilled to welcome Seattle back to Westlake Park on May 28, 2026! This renovation is the park’s first major upgrade since it was built in the late 1980s, and was a collaborative effort with Seattle Parks and Recreation, SeattleFWC26, Sellen Construction, Pine Street Group, Downtown Seattle Association, Downtown Community Council, Seattle Department of Transportation, and Berger Partnership. We’re grateful for the partnerships, community, and years of patience that made Westlake Park’s timely grand reopening possible—thank you!
“[I’m] grabbing a hot dog at Westlake Park and enjoying the beautiful sunshine, greenery, and live music with the many other park visitors that are here. I feel like I’m in Europe. 🙂 Great work everyone! Total win.”
Goals for the Project
- Improve guest experience – foster human connections
- Create a more cohesive park space and experience
- Address safety needs
- Address aging infrastructure
- Identify new facilities to support park programming
- Set the stage for longer term adjacent improvements
Project Partners:
Project Description
Westlake Park is at the heart of Seattle’s downtown core and an important gateway to the city. It serves as a critical transit hub for downtown offices, residents and tourists and connects to important regional assets including the Seattle Center (via the Monorail), the new Summit Convention Center, Pike Place Market, the new Seattle Waterfront Park, and the busy South Lake Union tech corridor. Recent investments in the Pike and Pine corridor allow for pedestrian access between all of these regional investments and the mass transit hub of Westlake Station. Westlake Park, the center hub of this system of public assets, however, is suffering from a lack of investment and attention and in some cases has attracted problematic behavior. The Park is often the first introduction to the city for tourists, an important neighborhood asset for downtown residents, and the center of the downtown retail core.
Compared to the rest of the city, the physical infrastructure and design characteristics of the park are dated. The park was built in 1988, and the city has grown up around it. Its current design no longer meets the needs of the community, businesses or residents.
Seattle Parks Foundation, in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, has convened a cross section of residents, public agencies, businesses, property owners and community service providers to improve Westlake Park and reinvigorate Downtown Seattle’s community commons. This project has the opportunity to serve families, tourists, locals, businesses, and property owners by creating a more open gathering space, and providing needed amenities to encourage people to spend more time in the heart of the City.
Seattle Parks Foundation and Seattle Parks and Recreation worked with Berger Partnership to rapidly advance the design process at Westlake Park. The project was completed in May 2026.
Project Schedule
Phase 1: July 1, 2024 – November 1, 2024
- Fundraising for Planning and Design
- Planning and Concept Design
- Public Outreach and Community Steering Committee Engagement
Phase 2: November 2024 – August 2025
- Public Open House
- Design, Engineering and Permitting
- Construction Documents and Contracting
Phase 3: October 8, 2025 – May 2026
- Construction
- The park was closed during construction from early October through Spring 2026. Access to all businesses and properties adjacent to the park was maintained.
Project Design and Public Engagement
The project design included the following elements as illustrated in the design below.
The design includes:
- Electrical upgrades for improved site lighting and seasonal events
- Improved conditions for existing trees
- Leveling of existing pavers throughout the site
- Removal of outdated features including the fountain and arch
- Removal of the Seven Hills art sculpture at the south end of the park
- Improvements to the stage for accessibility
- Addition of vehicle barriers using crash rated bollards and deterrents
Click the images below to enlarge:
Past Stakeholder Meeting Notes:
Contact
General project questions can be sent to Seattle Parks and Recreation: PKS_info@seattle.gov