The Story Behind the Name
The park began life as Elliott Bay Park, and in 1976 it was renamed for Myrtle Edwards, a Seattle city councilwoman who had died.
Her name was first intended for a different park, the one you now know as Gas Works Park. When that design came to center on the old gasification plant, her family withdrew the name, and this waterfront park took it instead.
Fireworks, Hempfest and Big Gatherings
People have long come together on this stretch of shoreline. From 1964 through 2008, the park hosted Fourth of Jul-Ivar's, one of Seattle's large Fourth of July fireworks shows.
Today you can catch Seattle Hempfest here every year. In a playful twist on the naming story, a park that once sidestepped honoring a gas plant now celebrates the hemp plant. Plan for crowds and limited room on the path if you visit during festival days.
Neighbors at Either End
Olympic Sculpture Park to the South
Head to the southern end to find the Olympic Sculpture Park, run as part of the Seattle Art Museum, which opened there in 2007. Begin or end your walk among its outdoor art for a satisfying pairing with the waterfront path.
Centennial Park and a Michael Heizer Sculpture to the North
At the northern end you reach Centennial Park, operated by the Port of Seattle. It also went by Elliott Bay Park until 2011, and the two parks are sometimes treated as one continuous stretch of green.
Near the northern end stands Adjacent, Against, Upon, a 1976 sculpture by Michael Heizer. If you are walking the full length, it makes a natural spot to turn around.
Getting In
Reaching the park takes a little planning. BNSF railroad tracks and a fence line its eastern edge, with Elliott Avenue West, a major road, just beyond, so the main entrances are at the northern and southern ends.
For an easier crossing, use the pedestrian and bicycle overpass at West Thomas Street, built in 2012. It sits roughly half a mile from the park's southern end and carries people on foot or bike over the tracks.
The Park Renovation
Myrtle Edwards Park and Centennial Park were scheduled for a major renovation running from March 2025 to June 2026. The work replaces older infrastructure that had been built on fill left over from the construction of Interstate 5.
The $56 million project is funded entirely by private donations, including gifts from Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott along with other contributors. Before you go, check with Seattle Parks and Recreation for current access, closures and path conditions.
Nearby Landmarks Within Half a Mile
Several well-known spots sit close by, so it is easy to fold the park into a longer day out:
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Globe: under 0.1 mile away
- Bressi Garage: about 0.3 mile
- Olympic Sculpture Park: about 0.3 mile
- Ainsworth & Dunn Warehouse: about 0.4 mile
- Seattle Labor Temple: about 0.4 mile
- Century 21 Coliseum (Key Arena): about 0.4 mile
- Northwest Rooms and International Fountain Pavilion: about 0.4 mile
- Pacific Science Center: about 0.5 mile
Ready for more open space? Browse our guide to all parks in Seattle.
