Chief Sealth Trail Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Updated rendering of the planned green stormwater infrastructure along the Chief Sealth Trail, near Wing Luke Elementary.

Project description

Reducing stormwater pollution and improving drainage

More than 12 million pounds of pollution are carried into our water bodies through stormwater runoff each year. Stormwater that falls on the roofs, streets, and parking lots in your neighborhood can pick up harmful pollutants before eventually draining into Lake Washington. The pollutants can harm fish, wildlife, and our ecosystems.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) plans to build new green stormwater infrastructure at the intersection of S. Kenyon St and the Chief Sealth Trail to manage stormwater runoff in the Othello neighborhood. The project will use special soil and deep-rooted plants to filter and temporarily hold stormwater. The project will help protect Lake Washington’s water quality by filtering stormwater from about 25 acres of neighborhood at the top of the hill and improve the function of the downstream storm system in Othello.

This project is in partnership with Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and their Safe Routes to School program, which recently completed sidewalk and pathway improvements at this location. SPU is also partnering with Seattle City Light and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture to enhance the area with additional public artwork.

Location

SPU’s green stormwater infrastructure will be located at the intersection of S. Kenyon St and the Chief Sealth Trail (aerial map of the project area.). This is the area east of Wing Luke Elementary, along 39th Ave S.

What's happening now?

Thank you to the community for providing feedback during the design process. We are currently wrapping up design for the green stormwater infrastructure components, and we expect to reach final design in summer 2025. Construction is then expected to begin in mid-2026. 

SPU has partnered with Seattle City Light and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture to select RYAN! Feddersen to create public artwork as part of this project. Learn more about RYAN! Feddersen's work. 

In 2023, SDOT completed their Safe Routes to School sidewalk and pathway improvements in this area. SPU has worked closely with SDOT to confirm the proposed GSI project is compatible with the recently completed sidewalk. 

Community benefits

This project seeks to bring multiple benefits to the Othello neighborhood and surrounding ecosystems, including:

• Improved stormwater drainage 
• Healthier creek, lake, and saltwater ecosystems
• Landscape improvements
• New public artwork

By partnering with SDOT, SPU can improve open green spaces, align with community priorities for better pedestrian safety and connections, and enhance the use of the Chief Sealth Trail. 

Community involvement

The SPU team engaged with the nearby community in 2023 to learn what elements were important and meaningful between the preliminary design options. Summaries of the survey and engagement results are available in the Project Documents section below. The preferred alternative that is currently being designed incorporates elements from both options and several community priorities we heard during engagement, including natural landscape improvements, public artwork, seating, and a connecting stairway.

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