The first park ever built over a freeway, Freeway Park's design intent was to provide promenades, views of Elliott Bay, and a green space in the middle of the city. But after 30 years, many of the park's features were in need of maintenance or repair.

As part of Mayor Nickels' initiative to transform Seattle's center city parks into vibrant, attractive public spaces, Freeway Park was chosen for site improvements, including rehabilitation of multiple fountains and landscape upgrades. The goal of the project was to improve public safety, access, park character, and programming opportunities, thus making the park more inviting to everyone and encouraging its active use by children, neighbors, downtown workers, and visitors using the Convention Center and Visitors Bureau.

ORB Architects, now part of INNOVA Architects, led the design team charged with the fountain renovation and addition and restoration of pedestrian lighting to Pigott Corridor. ORB worked with the city landscapers to solve complex problems at Pigott Corridor in order to restore its fountain after years of it being nonoperational. It opened to the public on June 25, 2008, at a ceremony where Mayor Greg Nickels turned the spigot to usher in "The Return of Water."

All fountains received water treatment upgrades and other safety improvements. Construction for the restoration of the three other fountains - Canyon, Cascade, and American Legion - was completed in February 2009.

KEY PROJECT FEATURES
American Legion Fountain Restoration: New Piping, Skimmer, Chemical Water Treatment and Filtration Systems, and Lighting
Canyon and Cascade Fountains Restoration: Rehabilitation of Third Pump to Restore Operation to Designed Capacity, Chemical Water Treatment and Filtration Systems, and Lighting
Control Center Renovation: Replace All Contactors, Relays, Mechanical Switches, Time Clocks, Annunciator Lights, and Hand-Off-Auto Switches
Pigott Corridor: Installation of Improved and Expanded Pedestrian Lighting