City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 05/20/2026 04:20 PM PDT
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact Information Karen O'Connor Phone: 206-233-7929 Email: Karen.OConnor@seattle.gov
Washington Park Arboretum Waterfront Trail Restoration Project Construction begins in June
Seattle, WA Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and our partners, the Arboretum Foundation and University of Washington Botanic Gardens, are excited to announce the beginning of Phase 1 construction for the Washington Park Arboretum Waterfront Trail restoration project. SPR has contracted with Redside Construction, who will mobilize at the site by June 2026. We anticipate opening Phase 1 of the project in early 2027.
Phase 1 construction will focus on the Foster Island section of the floating walkway, and it will include new overwater structural support piles, floats, walers, gangways, and railings to improve trail accessibility and year-round use. During construction, a portion of the trail (see highlighted map) will be closed to public access.
Thank you to the community for your patience as we have worked diligently over the past years on design, permitting, and funding hurdles. We are still working to secure funding to renovate the entire trail and plan to make improvements in phases as the budget allows. The design portion of Phase 2 is underway, and it focuses on improvements to the Marsh Island sections of the trail.
Together with our Arboretum partners, we are thrilled to be moving into the construction portion of Phase 1 of the project to preserve this popular public amenity. The Waterfront Trail offers scenic views of Union Bay and amazing opportunities to encounter wetland plant and wildlife biodiversity in the heart of the city.
This project is guided by the 2001 Arboretum Master Plan. The 230-acre Arboretum is cooperatively managed by Seattle Parks and Recreation and the UW Botanic Gardens, with major support from the Arboretum Foundation. The City owns the land and maintains the roads, trails, lawns, and utilities, while the University owns and curates the plant collections. The Foundation raises important funds to support Arboretum operations and special projects.
