Map of the Waterfront Seattle Program with the area for the Pier 58 rebuild highlighted. Pier 58, also known as Waterfront Park, is located on the waterfront near Union Street. The highlighted area shows a new triangle shape for the pier.

Pier 58 (Waterfront Park)

Project status

Pier 58 was rebuilt in a triangular shape, with an opening in the nearshore to improve salmon habitat. The nearly 50,000 square footage is approximately the same as the prior pier footprint.

The bronze historic FitzGerald Fountain was restored and reinstalled on the south-east corner of Pier 58.

25-foot jellyfish-inspired climbing structure with rolling tentacle slide, along with other climbing and swinging features and benches illuminated at night.

A view of the elevated lawn from the tree grove with Elliott Bay in the background.

Historic bronze Waterfront Fountain

Aquatic inspired play area looking toward downtown with the Miner’s Landing building in the background.

About the Project

Pier 58, previously known as Waterfront Park, creates a public park with community space for events, while offering expansive views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. The new pier is designed especially with families and young children in mind, with a public plaza for programming by Friends of Waterfront Park, a marine-themed children’s playground and a large lawn and trees provide shade and spaces to relax and play.

The pier design improves the marine habitat by allowing more natural light to access the water through the opening in the pier. The adjacent Elliott Bay Seawall project added grooves and nooks to the seawall face to promote algae growth, rock beds in the bay floor for fish to hide and forage in and a light-penetrating surface in the sidewalk above to provide light for young salmon during their migration.

The rejuvenation of Pier 58 is a reflection of the community’s passion and involvement in city design and rejuvenation. It celebrates ocean life and playfully connects to the larger waterfront plan. This collaboration is an incredible new placemaking development that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

Play Area

The Pier 58 marine-themed play area is entertaining to all ages, visually striking, and accessible to different mobility needs. Stretching 25 feet high, the visually striking jellyfish sculpture has swooping tentacles into large climbable nets, hand holds, slide bars, and flexform seats. The jellyfish is transparent enough for supervision but also gives a sense of enclosure. The ocean and city-skyline view from the jellyfish’s main body are a wondrous experience for climbers.

The play space also includes kelp-like robinia posts, climbable bubbles popping out of the ground, and an ADA accessible slide platform. Seating on the edges and throughout the area means parents and guardians can relax and watch their kids play.

Pier Removal

We removed the original Pier 58, which was completed in February 2021. See photos of pier removal in our Pier 58 Flickr photo album. 

Art

Artist Qwalsius-Shaun Peterson of the Puyallup Tribe, will carve three sculptural figures, collectively titled Family, that will form a grouping on the park promenade near Pier 58. Visit the art page to learn more.

The Waterfront Fountain, by James FitzGerald and Margaret Tomkins, and more familiarly known as the FitzGerald Fountain, is one of two bronze historic fountains placed on the waterfront, was restored and reinstalled on the south-east corner of Pier 58. The fountain was originally installed at Waterfront Park in 1974 and was made possible by a donation from Helen Harrington Schiff. With a new basin and plumbing, the refinished artwork has been meticulously restored to ensure that the water flow, volume, and finish reflect the original intention.

More information about the Waterfront Fountain

Explore Seattle’s New Waterfront

Pier 58 (Waterfront Park)

Project status

About the Project

Play Area

Pier Removal

Art

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