Overlook Walk

Located where the Viaduct once stood, Overlook Walk creates a key pedestrian connection between the City’s downtown core and its waterfront, connecting 100 feet of vertical elevation change in a short distance.  Overlook Walk adds approximately 60,000 square feet of new elevated park space to Seattle’s waterfront. The space was engineered to reflect the cultural heritage and natural environment of the Pacific Northwest in its urban design.

Overlook Walk features:

  • Easy Access: People can walk, use strollers, or wheelchairs on the elevated pathway from Pike Place Market to the waterfront without ever crossing the new Alaskan Way. There is also a new elevator.
  • 360-degree views:  Stunning views of downtown Seattle, Lumen Field, T-Mobile Park, Elliott Bay, the Olympic mountains, and Mount Rainier. Ample seating options provide an opportunity to rest and take in the scenery.  
  • Native Plantings: Bluff Walk pathway features landscapes and plants that mimic the natural environment that surrounds the city - featuring native species like Vine Maple, Western Sword Fern, and Nootka Rose.
  • Play Area: The park features a new play area for kids.
  • Concessions: A concessionaire space featuring small local businesses.

Award Winning

Overlook Walk received the Advancing Women in Transportation 2025 Innovative Transportation Solutions, American Public Works Association Washington 2025 Chapter Project of the Year $25M-75M, American Council of Engineering Companies Washington Chapter 2025 Engineering Excellence Award, National American Council of Engineering Companies Honor Award, Puget Sound Regional Council 2025 Vision 2050 On the Ground Award, the Construction Management Association of America Pacific Northwest Chapter 2025 Project Achievement Transportation, and the American Society of Landscape Architects 2025 Honor Award.

Partner Projects

Many key partners are taking their own steps to reinvest in Seattle's waterfront, including projects with strong connections to the Overlook Walk. The Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects works closely with these key partner projects, as well as coordinating with the various private development projects underway.

Pike Place Market's MarketFront

In 2017, Pike Place Market grew for the first time with the new “MarketFront”, a waterfront-facing westward expansion of the Market featuring more small businesses, farmers, senior housing, public art, and a new neighborhood center. MarketFront links directly to the new Overlook Walk and the Aquarium's Ocean Pavilion to provide a critical new public connection to and from the waterfront, overcoming the city's steep topography and avoiding street crossings.

Seattle Aquarium's Ocean Pavilion

Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion connects Seattle to the Indo-Pacific ecosystem in the Coral Triangle. In conjunction with the adjacent Overlook Walk, this investment connects downtown, Pike Place Market, and the waterfront as a gathering place for all. Providing an extension of the existing Seattle Aquarium on Piers 59 and 60, this new exhibit provides several critical public features such as a new public elevator and a publicly-accessible rooftop park.