Lake Union Park Breaks Ground

Todd Burley, Seattle Parks Foundation

On February 28th, over 200 people and 25 neighborhood organizations and businesses joined the Seattle Parks Foundation at the Historic Ships Wharf to celebrate the groundbreaking for Lake Union Park.  This new 12-acre waterfront park in the heart of the city - formerly known as South Lake Union Park - was also officially renamed to reflect how the park opens up access to the entire lake. 

With active construction behind them, Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis and Councilmember Jan Drago unveiled a banner for Lake Union Park, showing the vision of what this park will become.  Sally Jewell (CEO of REI), Ada Healey (VP Vulcan Real Estate), Doug and Maggie Walker (Campaign Co-Chairs), and Dick Wagner (The Center for Wooden Boats) spoke in support of the park.  In addition, Parks Superintendent Ken Bounds spoke on his last day of the job and received a blanket and tribal membership from Phil Lane, Jr. of the United Indians of All Tribes who gave a blessing ceremony for Lake Union Park.

Music and activities were plentiful with marimba music from the Spruce Street School; sea shanties from NW Seaport; booths from Starbucks, REI, Jones Soda, and Whole Foods; and tugboat story time and toy boat-building with The Center for Wooden Boats.

The Lake Union Park Groundbreaking Celebration was the launch of the community campaign for Phase II of construction for this new park.  Currently the Parks Foundation has raised over $16.4 million toward a $20 million private fundraising goal to complete Lake Union Park. 

Phase I construction will be completed in November 2007 and will include the new seawall, a boardwalk and terraced steps to the water, utility work and landscaping, and a pedestrian bridge connecting to the west side of the park.

Phase II construction will begin fall 2008. Among the many features of the completed Lake Union Park are:

• a model boat pond,
• a History Trail highlighting local heritage,
• a restored shoreline and beach for hand-launched boats,
• an interactive water fountain,
• an expanded Center for Wooden Boats, and
• paths for taking a walk in the park.

Learn more and see the flythrough animation at www.seattleparksfoundation.org.