Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Freeway Park and join a civic discussion on the evolution of this nationally significant urban design project. A moderated panel discussion with expert speakers will bring the audience along a journey of past, present, and future. We’ll think about growth and reconnection of the Downtown and First Hill neighborhoods over the past half-century, the successes and challenges stewarding this urban park through the Freeway Park Association, an update on the current capital improvements project, the implications of being a designated landmark, and how the park is inspiring the future Lid I-5 project that seeks to expand public land over the freeway below.

Our panel of speakers are:

Rebecca Bear, President and CEO, Seattle Parks Foundation (moderator)
Maggie Walker, President, Walker Family Foundation; and former board chair of Friends of Waterfront Park
Senator Jamie Pedersen, 43rd Legislative District and Senate Majority Leader
Riisa Conklin, Executive Director, Freeway Park Association
Lara Rose, Principal, Walker Macy Landscape Architects

Doors open at 5:00 pm for a social hour, and the program begins at 6:00 pm. The moderated panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session, and doors close at 8:00 pm. There will be a no-host cash bar for drinks, and complimentary light food available. The panel discussion will be video recorded and made available online after the event.