Freeway Park Improvements

Updated: March 6, 2025

Spring 2025

The 90% Construction Document cost estimate came in significantly over budget. Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and the design team are working to break the work into phases. The full scope of work will be presented to the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the Seattle Landmarks and Preservation Board (LPB), and the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) for review and final approval.

SPR is targeting advertising the bid for Phase 1 in mid 2025 with construction running throughout the year and completed in time to celebrate the Park’s 50th Anniversary in 2026.

Project Elements Funded in Phase 1

Entire Park
- New lighting at existing light poles
- Architectural lighting spot improvements (i.e.: 8th Ave Underpass)
- Site Furniture new and restored
- Landscape, irrigation, and drainage spot improvements
Upper Lawns
- Renovated restroom structure with 2 gender-neutral stalls
- 60% Planting/Irrigation
Pigott Corridor
- 60% Planting/Irrigation
Additive:
- New Wayfinding signage

Seneca Plaza
- New larger plaza
- Paving and seating elements
- Improved access to Canyon Fountain
- Planting and lawn terrace
- Lighting and signage
- New buildings:
  - Restroom with 2 gender-neutral stalls
  - Concierge
  - Storage
Box Gardens
- Clean-up and tree removal
- 60% Planting/Irrigation

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 2023
Construction Documentation: Winter 2023 - Spring 2025
Bidding: Mid 2025
Construction Begins: Late 2025 - Late 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