Westlake Park Improvements

Westlake Park is at the heart of Seattle’s downtown core and an important gateway to the city. It serves as a critical transit hub for downtown offices, residents and tourists and connects to important regional assets including the Seattle Center (via the Monorail), the new Summit Convention Center, Pike Place Market, the new Seattle Waterfront Park, and the busy South Lake Union tech corridor. Recent investments in the Pike and Pine corridor allow for pedestrian access between all of these regional investments and the mass transit hub of Westlake Station. Westlake Park, the center hub of this system of public assets, however, is suffering from a lack of investment and attention and in some cases has attracted problematic behavior. The Park is often the first introduction to the city for tourists, an important neighborhood asset for downtown residents, and the center of the downtown retail core.

Compared to the rest of the city, the physical infrastructure and design characteristics of the park are dated. The park was built in 1988, and the city has grown up around it. Its current design no longer meets the needs of the community, businesses or residents.

Seattle Parks Foundation, in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, has convened a cross section of residents, public agencies, businesses, property owners and community service providers to improve Westlake Park and reinvigorate Downtown Seattle’s community commons. This project has the opportunity to serve families, tourists, locals, businesses, and property owners by creating a more open gathering space, and providing needed amenities to encourage people to spend more time in the heart of the City.

Seattle Parks Foundation and Seattle Parks and Recreation are working with Berger Partnership to rapidly advance the design process at Westlake Park. Our goal is to complete the project by Spring 2026.