Waterfront Park | |
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![]() Waterfront Park in May 2019 | |
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Type | Urban Park |
Location | Seattle, Washington |
Coordinates | 47°36′25″N122°20′31″W / 47.60694°N 122.34194°W Coordinates: 47°36′25″N122°20′31″W / 47.60694°N 122.34194°W |
Established | 1968 |
Operated by | Seattle Parks and Recreation |
Waterfront Park is a public park on the Central Waterfront, Downtown, Seattle, Washington, USA. Designed by the Bumgardner Partnership and consultants, it was constructed on the site of the former Schwabacher Wharf (Pier 58). [1] [2]
In its early years, the pier then known variously as Schwabacher Wharf, Schwabacher's Wharf, Schwabacher Dock, etc. was the location of two prominent events in the city's history. The freighter Miike Maru opened Seattle's Japan trade by docking there August 31, 1896. Less than a year later, July 17, 1897, the steamship Portland arrived from Alaska bearing a "ton of gold", from the Klondike. The ensuing Yukon Gold Rush formed strong bonds between Seattle and Alaska, and brought enormous wealth to Seattle as the "Gateway to Alaska". [1] [2]
This portion of Seattle's waterfront was used by the military during World War II. By 1960, the Central Waterfront was beginning to take on its current recreational character, [2] as shipping moved primarily to the container port in the Industrial District south of Downtown. [3]
In 1968, King County voters approved a Forward Thrust bond issue to acquire the land for the park, which was matched by federal money and augmented several other sources including Model Cities programs, and donations. [2] The new park opened on October 25, 1974, and cost $1.8 million to construct the first phase. [4]
The park extends from the privately owned Pier 57 to Pier 59, an official city landmark that is the site of the Seattle Aquarium. One of the entrances to the Aquarium is from a viewing platform in the park. The park viewing platforms can be reached both by stairs and a wheelchair-accessible ramp. The park also features coin-operated telescopes, benches, picnic tables, and some trees in planters. Near the picnic tables is Waterfront Fountain, made of cubes cast and welded bronze. The sculpture was a work in progress by artist James FitzGerald at the time of his death. In collaboration with his widow, Margaret Tompkins, it was completed by Terry Copple. [2]
Waterfront Park was closed in August 2020 by the city government after an inspection found a gap of "several inches" between Pier 58 and the land. The pier was planned to be replaced in 2022 as part of the viaduct corridor program. [5] An emergency order to dismantle the pier was approved by Mayor Jenny Durkan on August 14, 2020. [6] During early work on removing Pier 58 on September 13, 2020, the central portion (including the bronze fountain) collapsed into Elliott Bay. Two construction workers fell into the water and were rescued with minor injuries that were treated at Harborview Medical Center. [7] The adjacent Pier 57, which includes the Great Wheel and Miner's Landing, was closed on September 18 after an inspection found that the southern section of Pier 58 could collapse and become hazardous to the adjacent pier. [8]
The removal of Pier 58 was completed in February 2021; the adjacent pedestrian walkway was reopened the following April. [9] The rebuilt pier will be triangular in shape and is planned to open in 2024. [10]
Mukilteo is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It is located on the Puget Sound between Edmonds and Everett, approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of Seattle. The city had a population of 20,254 at the 2010 census and an estimated 2019 population of 21,441.
Elliott Bay is a part of the Central Basin region of Puget Sound. It is in the U.S. state of Washington, extending southeastward between West Point in the north and Alki Point in the south. Seattle was founded on this body of water in the 1850s and has since grown to encompass it completely. The waterway it provides to the Pacific Ocean has served as a key element of the city's economy, enabling the Port of Seattle to become one of the busiest ports in the United States.
The Port of Los Angeles is a seaport managed by the Los Angeles Harbor Department, a unit of the City of Los Angeles. It occupies 7,500 acres (3,000 ha) of land and water with 43 miles (69 km) of waterfront and adjoins the separate Port of Long Beach. Promoted as "America's Port", the port is located in San Pedro Bay in the San Pedro and Wilmington neighborhoods of Los Angeles, approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of downtown.
The Seattle Aquarium is a public aquarium in Seattle, Washington, United States, located on Pier 59 on the Elliott Bay waterfront. It opened in 1977 and has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
The Port of Seattle is a government agency overseeing the seaport of Seattle, Washington, United States as well as Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. With a portfolio of properties ranging from parks and waterfront real estate, to one of the largest airports and container terminals on the West Coast, the Port of Seattle is one of the Pacific Northwest's leading economic engines.
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The Port of San Francisco is a semi-independent organization that oversees the port facilities at San Francisco, California, United States. It is run by a five-member commission, appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Board of Supervisors. The Port is responsible for managing the larger waterfront area that extends from the anchorage of the Golden Gate Bridge, along the Marina district, all the way around the north and east shores of the city of San Francisco including Fisherman's Wharf and the Embarcadero, and southward to the city line just beyond Candlestick Point. In 1968 the State of California, via the California State Lands Commission for the State-operated San Francisco Port Authority, transferred its responsibilities for the Harbor of San Francisco waterfront to the City and County of San Francisco / San Francisco Harbor Commission through the Burton Act AB2649. All eligible State port authority employees had the option to become employees of the City and County of San Francisco to maintain consistent operation of the Port of San Francisco.
Long Wharf is a historic American pier in Boston, Massachusetts, built between 1710 and 1721. It once extended from State Street nearly a half-mile into Boston Harbor; today, the much-shortened wharf functions as a dock for passenger ferries and sightseeing boats.
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Carol Consuela Moon is an American political activist who was part of the campaign to re-open Seattle's waterfront after the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Moon was a candidate for Mayor of Seattle in the 2017 mayoral election, finishing second in the primary and advancing to face Jenny Durkan. During the general election, she trailed Durkan in preliminary results and conceded.
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Waterfront Fountain was an outdoor 1974 fountain and sculpture by James FitzGerald and Margaret Tomkins, installed along Alaskan Way in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington. The fountain was located adjacent to the Seattle Aquarium at Waterfront Park on Pier 58.
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