Welcoming a new kind of jellyfish to Seattle’s waterfront!

Editor's Note: This is a blog post from the Waterfront Seattle Program. The Waterfront Seattle Program is a collaboration between the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects and other Seattle departments including the Mayor's Office, Parks and Recreation, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Planning and Community Development.

The City's Office of the Waterfront & Civic Projects has redesigned and is currently rebuilding a new pier between the Seattle Aquarium and Miner's Landing. This new space at Pier 58 includes a much-anticipated playground for children as well as a plaza, tree grove, elevated lawn, and the restored Waterfront Fountain. A new sea life themed play area including a jellyfish-climbing tower has taken shape and is propelling us closer to opening to visitors next Spring!

[Link]The play area currently being constructed on Pier 58 brings a whimsical presence to the waterfront.

Why a jellyfish and how did it get here?

The new playground was designed based on feedback gathered from hundreds of community members. Thanks to a visual online survey, parents and kids alike shared their priorities for the new play area, which included climbing features and covered slides. Many survey respondents also wanted an iconic playground that is not only fun to play on, but also sculptural, unique and beautiful to look at and they appreciated the curvy and soft-edge designs and the use of natural elements.

A lot of creative suggestions were shared at that time, including:

• "There could be fun and creative designs related to marine life (kelp-forest-inspired climbing structures; barnacle feather sun/rain shades; depth with clam-inspired structures etc.)"
• "Ride a killer whale. Climb on an octopus. Shark slide."
• "I like (the Washington Waters concept) because we know more about the land than the sea. And there's way more things to explore in the sea."

The design was developed by combining three initial concepts inspired by pier piles, waves and sea creatures.

[Link]The three initial concepts that informed the final playground design.

The final playground has a variety of elements to engage folks of all ages and abilities. It includes a 25-ft tall jellyfish-inspired climbing tower and tentacles with an 18-ft slide and is surrounded by crab wobble boards and a kelp forest, as suggested by a survey respondent. We've designed the play area to accommodate navigation by wheelchairs as well and play features like magnetic bead panels are designed with accessibility needs in mind.

Parents and guardians will be able to sit on nearby benches and be able to keep an eye on those playing, thanks to transparency in the structure. This will also allow for visibility to Elliott Bay from the Park Promenade.

[Link]An image of the multiple play features including a crab wobble board, slide, and climbing structures.[Link]A close-up of the crab wobble boards surrounded by wooden posts that make up the kelp forest.[Link]Climbing walls and rope features will connect to the jellyfish.[Link]The magnetic bead panel attached to segments of the kelp forest.

The play elements were prefabricated off-site, delivered in pieces and assembled on-site in September. Current work focuses on the installation of the safety surfacing and permanent seating features.

[Link]A segment of the playground being delivered on the back of a truck.

Link to Playground installation Youtube video
Timelapse of playground construction on Pier 58

More on the horizon

Other exciting improvements are coming to Pier 58! The Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects has been building the new pier since 2022, a process which has included two in-water work seasons for pile driving to replace the old timber piles with new steel pipe piles for a stable foundation. Thanks to the completion of the majority of the structural work, there has been a focus on the installation of park features.

[Link]Pre-cast benches set into place at the elevated tree grove and the restored Waterfront Fountain in the background.

Permanent seating features are being installed like precast benches surrounding the play area, tree grove and lawn areas, and we have begun adding soil to the tree grove space. In the coming months, installation of landscaping will begin including irrigation, topsoil, lawn materials, and trees and plants. We will also be adding electrical systems and guardrails.

The Office of the Waterfront and Civic projects is excited to be leading the Pier 58 project toward a public opening once complete in spring 2025. Whether it's relaxing at the grove or exerting energy on the play features, Pier 58 will reshape how people interact and experience Seattle's new waterfront.

[Link]Current aerial of Pier 58. Photo courtesy of Tim Rice.[Link]Aerial rendering of Pier 58

Public restroom is being built across the way

Just across from the pier, there is a new public restroom that is currently being built, which is anticipated to open in early 2025. Central to the waterfront, the restroom was designed with several key goals in mind. These include making it a welcoming, safe, and clean facility for users of all ages and abilities, accommodating families, and expressing the unique character of the waterfront. The restroom will include 6 all-gender stalls, designed with privacy for users in mind, while the architectural design allows for an open and airy feeling with natural ventilation. Installation of the restroom frame is complete and current work is focused on completing the structure and utilities in the coming months.

[Link]Image of the restroom frame looking north between University and Union streets.[Link]Rendering looking southeast toward the restroom once complete.

These improvements are being made as part of the Waterfront Seattle Program, by the City's Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects team. Since 2010, the program has been assessing, designing, and building multi-modal transportation improvements, new parks and public open spaces, and enhancing key connections between the Seattle waterfront and downtown, and have completed a number of projects including several improved east-west connection projects, pedestrian bridges, and new permanent public artworks. The remaining projects, including Pier 58 and its playground, the bike lanes along the waterfront, the restroom (and more!), will be opened in spring 2025 and we look forward to celebrating alongside community with a series of Waterfront Park Grand Opening celebration events.

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