City Hall Park and Vicinity

Spring 2025

The City Hall Park and Vicinity study builds from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Public Life Action Plan. The design study includes a collection of public spaces in Pioneer Square, including City Hall Park (downtown Seattle's second largest green space), Prefontaine Place (a key entrance to the Sound Transit Pioneer Square light rail station), and a portion of 3^rd Avenue.

In March 2023, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) hired Berger Partnership to further the Phase 2 community engagement and design process for City Hall Park in coordination with preliminary technical investigations and studies required for Prefontaine Park.

The project aims to have an approved Schematic Design for Prefontaine Place and City Hall Park by April 2025,  that addresses the requirements of the Pioneer Square Preservation Board and input from the community.  

• How would you encourage SPR to think big about this space?
  To subscribe for updates on the planning process, and to provide input on the future design, please visit City Hall Park Vicinity (cityhallparkvicinity.com)

In late June 2021, SPR hosted a design charrette for the project. The charrette brought together community groups and the design team to discuss big vision ideas with other agencies that are currently working on projects around City Hall Park, Prefontaine Place, Fortson Square, and the surrounding streets. The project is a continuation of the Yesler Crescent Public Life Action Plan and is in partnership with the Alliance for Pioneer Square's NE Framework plan. Attendees included SPR, SDOT, the Alliance for Pioneer Square, OPCD, Chief Seattle Club, Berger Partnership, SVR/MIG, Third Place Design Coop and Broadview planning.