Freeway Park Improvements

Updated: January 20, 2026

Early 2026

Phase 1 of the Freeway Park Improvements Project was opened for contractor bids in January 2026. Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is now reviewing proposals for this phase, which includes renovating restrooms and benches throughout the park. SPR and the design team are also working with Tube Art on new wayfinding and signage. Construction is expected to begin in early spring 2026 and finish in time for FIFA events and the park’s 50th anniversary celebration later that year.

Project Elements Funded in Phase 1:

Restroom Renovation in Upper Lawns
Renovation of Park Benches
New Wayfinding and Signage

Project Elements in Design for Phase 2:

New electrical infrastructure
New lighting at existing light poles
Architectural lighting spot improvements (i.e.: 8th Ave Underpass)
Landscape and site restoration at construction impacted areas

Some features in the project’s design are temporarily on hold while we work to secure additional funding. These updates were planned for the Seneca Plaza area of the park and may move forward in a future phase:

New larger plaza
Paving and seating elements
Improved access to Canyon Fountain
Planting and lawn terrace
New buildings:
- Restroom with 2 gender-neutral stalls
- Concierge
- Storage

Location

Freeway Park, 700 Seneca St, 98101

Budget

SPR has received $10 million in funding from the Washington State Convention Center Expansion Project as part of the public benefit package associated with the Convention Center expansion. The funding will repair, restore, and enhance Freeway Park. Of the $10 million, $750,000 is for activation within the park, and $9,250,000 is dedicated to capital improvements, covering construction (approximately $6 million), design and project management, permitting, sales tax, and contingencies.

Schedule

Planning: 2019 - 2020
Design: 2020 - Winter 2024
Construction Documentation: Winter 2024 - Winter 2025
Phase 1 Bidding: January 2026
Phase 1 Construction: Spring 2026 - Summer 2026
Phase 2 Construction Documentation: Winter 2025 – Fall 2026
Phase 2 Bidding: Fall 2026
Construction Begins: Winter 2026

Project Description

The scope of the capital project work builds on the Finding Freeway Park concept plan, produced by the Freeway Park Association, and includes infrastructure upgrades, lighting, wayfinding, and a new restroom. The rough order of magnitude cost estimate to repair, restore and enhance Freeway Park is based on the Finding Freeway Park Concept Report, produced by the Freeway Park Association, which identifies areas of focus.

Our project team includes:
Walker Macy - walkermacy.com
3 Square Blocks LLC
Freeway Park Association - freewayparkassociation.org

Landmarks

In July 2022, the City of Seattle Landmarks and Preservation Board designated Freeway Park a City Landmark. Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and Landmarks Preservation Board finalized the Controls and Incentives Agreement in June 2023. View the Controls and Incentives document.

Community Participation

One of the critical components of this project is public outreach. There is a very diverse set of stakeholders that surround and use the park. Together with our consultant team, we engaged with the adjacent Washington State Convention Center, the surrounding business community, residents who live around the park, homeless individuals who use the park frequently, and other stakeholders and user groups.

Public Kick-Off Event 9/10/2019

Open House and Panel Discussion - 10/28/2019

Panel: Randy Gragg (Executive Director, Portland Parks Foundation); Alison Hirsch (Director of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism at USC School of Architecture); Kenneth Helphand (FASLA, Professor Emeritus in Landscape Architecture, University of Oregon); Charles A. Birnbaum (FASLA, FAAR, President & CEO, The Cultural Landscape Foundation); Iain Robertson (Associate Professor and Adjunct Faculty, University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences).

Online Open House - July 7 - August 5, 2020

Background Documents

A New Vision for Freeway Park - A report prepared by Project for Public Spaces in January 2005
Freeway Park Landmark Nomination - 2005
An Organizational-Theory Focused Analysis of Seattle's Freeway Park - March 2016
Finding Freeway Park Concept Report - November 2017
Freeway Park RFQ Pre-proposal Meeting Sign-in Sheet - January 17, 2019
Freeway Park RFQ Questions and Answers - January 22, 2019
Freeway Park Improvement Project Design Development Presentation - March 2021
Controls and Incentives Agreement with the City of Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board - June 22, 2023
Freeway Park Improvement Project 60% Design Presentation to Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation (DAHP) - November 9, 2023