Whether it’s the frustratingly mercurial schedule of the ferries these days or a life lived largely on the Peninsula-side, many Bainbridge Islanders find themselves on the Seattle waterfront less frequently. If that sounds familiar, it may not be sinking in what kind of transformation is taking place just eight miles away.
We’re in the home stretch of a generational-impact moment: Seattle’s Waterfront Park is a public-private project that completely transforms Seattle from Pioneer Square to the Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s bold and comprehensive, encompassing the construction of the underground tunnel, seawall reconstruction, habitat restoration, parks, paths, sculptures, gathering spaces, new vistas and lush landscaping. It creates 20 acres of new public space – a rare and dreamy gift for any city.
For islanders, the project has been grinding along for so long that its game-changing potential is obscured… hidden behind a confusing thicket of orange cones and the constant music of jackhammers. It’s been so easy to focus on the hassles because, yes, we have lived through a lot – 10 years of construction impacts. Travelers from the West Sound in particular have lived with constant disruption, particularly the demolition of the viaduct and the new Colman Dock.
Seattle’s Friends of the Waterfront have delivered a design that is respectful and multi-dimensional, not an inauthentic, inaccessible playground catering only to affluent tourists. Seattle’s most extraordinary jewel—its waterfront necklace—will now be connected to the city and the sound, made free to all, easy to access, historically and culturally significant, environmentally sensitive, and filled with art, history, nature and activity. It’s a thrilling conclusion. Once completed, the new waterfront is expected to attract 8 million new visitors every year.
As Bainbridge Islanders, I feel like this Waterfront Park opportunity is ours to shape as well. With Colman Dock at the center of the action, our island is just one scenic, inexpensive ferry ride away and every crossing is a chance to carry culture, education and opportunity across the water.
BI is gifted with an abundance of smart, diverse and imaginative thinkers. At BI Museum of Art, we’re excited to be in conversation with guests, neighbors, friends, downtown business, civic leaders, tribal community members, artists, volunteers, peer non-profits, staff, board, and donors. Using the lenses of Economic & Artistic Activity; Equity and Inclusivity; and Quality of Life, we use these conversations to help imagine the offerings, experiences, and spirit that we want to share with future visitors. This rich information also helps define how we best serve our hometown community for maximum joy and impact.
This transformative moment that’s cresting over Seattle in the next 18 months allows all of us to re-imagine or reconfirm the city we want to be on our end and to explore what kinds of opportunities are waiting to be connected to in Seattle. In a world that can seem impenetrable or impersonal, this feels like a remarkable chance for agencies in joining together as an island to shape a culturally rich, economically strong and artistically exciting future. Count us in.
Sheila Hughes is executive director of the BI Museum of Art
