Victor Steinbrueck Park

Summer 2024

Victor Steinbrueck Park will open in September! Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is working on a community celebration to welcome all back to the park. SPR awarded Kassel & Associates, Inc. the construction contract for the project. The contractor has installed the new waterproofing membrane and is continuing site improvements. The project experienced construction delays due to the complexity of working on top of a parking garage that SPR does not own and working with adjacent neighbors on the construction impacts. 

You can view some early project progress photos here.

The totem poles were temporarily removed and transported off-site for storage during construction. The poles will be reinstalled at the park, but significant work will be needed before they can be reinstalled. SPR is working with a conservator and will soon have more details on the restoration and its timing.

The waterproofing membrane on the westerly portion of the park between the parking garage below and the park is failing. In addition to the park improvements, the replacement of the waterproofing membrane is the primary goal for this project.

This improvement and maintenance project provides public safety improvements that include better sight lines in the park, the renovation of the seating area, the renovation of the former children’s play area, the improvement and expansion of lighting, and the upgrading of landscaping. The project will provide circulation updates creating a connection to MarketFront (honoring Victor Steinbrueck’s vision that the park be an extension of the Market), and an improved connection to the Tree of Life area.

During the public and stakeholder outreach process, SPR and the design team heard from the community the importance of honoring the significance of the park to Seattle’s Native American communities, specifically the Urban Native community. Coast Salish welcome text at the entrance walls, special concrete path paving with a Coast Salish basket-weave pattern, a Coast Salish map, and Coast Salish column wraps at the Pavilion are elements that will be included in the park. These design elements support the original design intent of the park as a place that welcomes all people, recognizes Seattle’s Native American communities, and reflects the local Coast Salish culture.

We received the Certificate of Approval from the Pike Place Market Historic Commission for the proposed improvements in September 2019. See the park improvements design, site features, and furnishings.