Seattle’s waterfront received yet another family-friendly boost this summer with the opening of the fully renovated and reimagined Centennial Park. Featuring sandy beaches, children’s play areas, an on-site cafe, and paved multi-use trails, this park is a true urban oasis. Funded fully by private donors as a gift to the community, this park is already a local gem in the making. Recently, I spent an afternoon exploring the new and improved Centennial Park with my teenage son. Read on for tips on how to visit, whether the park is a destination in its own right or part of a larger Seattle day outing.
Benches to rest along the trail. (Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
Centennial Park reopened to the public on June 4, 2026, after 15 months of construction. Situated at 2711 Alaskan Way W, this Seattle destination welcomes visitors from daybreak until twilight. Free parking is available in a small dedicated parking lot. The Centennial Park Parking Lot is near Cafe Hagen and the haʔłali building, a Lushootseed word meaning “The Good Place”. There is also paid street parking along Elliott Ave W. (Usually $3 for 2 hours) or in the Olympic Sculpture Park parking garage (garage rates). Public restrooms, picnic tables, water fountains, and water bottle fillers are available at The Good Place building. Paved trails connect Centennial Park with Myrtle Edwards Park and the Olympic Sculpture Park, making this two-mile park corridor fully accessible to strollers, bikes, ADA devices, and pedestrians.
The Good Place building (Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
Our afternoon in Centennial Park was part of a larger outing in Seattle, so we entered and exited the park on foot from Olympic Sculpture Park. We enjoyed walking on the waterfront trail, where we had beautiful views of the Seattle skyline, the Olympic Mountains, and the many people walking their dogs (my son is a huge dog lover, so this was definitely a bonus!). There were several spots along the trail to stop and rest on shade-covered benches, beach-view seats, or a tranquil rose garden. Along the way, we encountered several Indigenous design features, including the 13 moons of the Coast Salish lunar calendar, carved into large stones throughout the park. Wayfinding and interpretive signs helped us navigate the park while learning about the natural and industrial features around us. Our walk from Olympic Sculpture Park to The Good Place building at the far end of Centennial Park took about 30 minutes.
Cafe Hagen (Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
Before returning along the same path, we refilled our water bottles at The Good Place and checked out Cafe Hagen. With a cafe menu of (absolutely gorgeous) sandwiches, pastries, and espresso, this is a great spot for a light meal or a pick-me-up. On our walk back through the park, I paid special attention to the family-friendly features I would like to return to with my younger children. Full of amenities like sandy beaches, a kids’ exploration area with a dedicated sand pit and climbing structures, bike paths, and many dog-friendly areas, this is a great park to explore with the whole family. One unusual yet somewhat captivating park feature is the adjacent grain elevator that helps transport grain from trains that arrive from the Midwest to cargo ships in Elliott Bay, which then transport the grain throughout the world. It was fascinating to watch this part of the food process in action, and it also made for some great train spotting!
Bike parking and trails. (Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
A few things to keep in mind during your visit. Bring along scooters or bikes to get around the park, or be prepared to do a fair amount of walking, as things are pretty spread out. The kids’ exploration area is about a 14-minute walk from either the parking area near Cafe Hagen or from Olympic Sculpture Park at the other end. There is only one restroom area for the park, located at The Good Place, so plan your bathroom breaks accordingly. The restroom area is an all-gender restroom with private toilet stalls (including one larger “family” toilet room) and communal hand-washing stations. The restrooms were very clean and monitored by a staff member on the day we visited. One of the park’s best features is its natural landscaping and wildflowers. Since the park is still so new, some areas are roped off to allow the new plants to grow.
Centennial Park parking lot (Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
While there is plenty in Centennial Park to keep you busy all day, the location lends itself well to tying a park visit in with additional Seattle destinations. If you want to start at or walk to Olympic Sculpture Park, check out the pop-up mini golf they have set up there until September 7th. Make reservations at least a day in advance, as it does sell out, especially on weekends. Continue down the Seattle waterfront toward Pier 60, where you can visit the Seattle Aquarium (an additional 20-minute walk past Olympic Sculpture Park), a sea creature-themed waterfront playground, Overlook Walk, or Pike Place Market. Alternatively, head up the hill from Olympic Sculpture Park toward Seattle Center (about a 10-minute walk from Olympic Sculpture Park), where you can visit Pacific Science Center, Seattle Children’s Museum, Artists At Play playground, or MOPOP.
Olympic Sculpture Park popup mini golf (Image: Allison Peterson / Seattle’s Child)
At the end of the day, Centennial Park captured my heart. Exploring such a beautiful stretch of nature in the city was, quite literally, a breath of fresh air. I can’t wait to return for another visit with the rest of my family to discover even more of what this park has to offer!
