Duwamish River People's Park

A Green Space Reborn

Located next to the west bank of the Lower Duwamish Waterway in South Park, Seattle, you'll find the Duwamish River People's Park - a 14-acre green space that opened in 2022. It represents the largest habitat restoration project the Duwamish River has seen in a generation.

The story behind this place is interesting. What's now an ecological sanctuary was once known as Terminal 117, an industrial site where asphalt shingles were manufactured from 1937 to 1993. As you might guess, that left behind quite the toxic footprint of contaminated soil and sediments.

Community-Powered Renewal

The transformation didn't happen overnight or in isolation. The Port of Seattle teamed up with Duwamish Valley residents, government agencies, and local Tribes to breathe new life into this forgotten corner. Together, they removed around 60,000 tons of contaminated soil and planted 40,000 native plants to help nature reclaim the space.

Today, the park pulls double duty - it's both a critical habitat for local wildlife and a place where you can connect with the shoreline. One of its most important roles is supporting salmon recovery, which in turn helps the endangered Southern Resident orca population that depends on salmon for survival.

Nature's Comeback

The restoration has boosted the area's salt-marsh habitat by 40%, creating a safe haven for various species. Among the beneficiaries are the endangered Chinook salmon, which now have a better chance at survival thanks to these efforts.

Deep Cultural Roots

This spot isn't just ecologically significant - it's culturally rich too. You're standing on what Indigenous people called ł(ə)gʷalb, which refers to an abandoned or old river channel. The connection to the past continues today as Tribal fishers use the area to harvest salmon during migration seasons, exercising their Treaty Fishing Rights.

Learning in Nature

The park also functions as a living laboratory where young environmentalists get hands-on experience with habitat restoration and marine wildlife conservation. It's education that goes beyond textbooks, allowing people to witness ecological recovery in action.