The Olympic Sculpture Park (OSP) shoreline restoration is the first of its kind within Elliott Bay and represents an innovative approach to improving urban nearshore ecosystems. Originally the OSP site was operated for petroleum storage and distribution. The fuel storage caused sediment contamination and required clean up prior to any other use of the area. After the site was cleaned up, SAM purchased the OSP site in 1999 with the intent to create a public space for art. At this time, SAM owned two upland parcels and one subtidal parcel, with the City of Seattle owning a right-of-way at the water’s edge. This presented a unique opportunity for SAM and the City of Seattle to collaborate and capitalize on the OSP’s location along Elliott Bay.

At early design meetings in 2002, City of Seattle staff introduced the idea of connecting the upland area with the shoreline and subtidal parcels. Designers collaborated with SAM and City staff to come up with the signature “Z” pathway that takes visitors from the uplands of the park down to the shoreline. However, this design required SAM to address a failing seawall, an activity beyond their original plans and budget. Given the educational and outreach elements of the shoreline component of the park, SAM tackled the challenge to connect the uplands to the shoreline.

Then SAM’s designers and engineers came up with a creative solution for the seawall, along with habitat improvements for the remainder of the shoreline site. The seawall was left intact, but riprap was added waterward of the seawall to shore up the structure and to create a habitat bench in the intertidal zone. To the north of the seawall, a pocket beach was excavated to provide shallow water habitat for juvenile salmon. Riparian vegetation and woody debris were placed on the beach uplands. The pocket beach also created a location for park visitors to access the water, the only such site along the Seattle waterfront.
The City of Seattle’ research is augmented by ongoing monitoring of the OSP shoreline improvements. Monitoring at the site occurred before and after project construction. Although the site is relatively new, the monitoring illustrates that created habitats in urban areas can add ecological value. Already, the OSP shoreline enhancements have biological functions that are similar to older created and more natural beaches. These enhanced habitat types that mimic more natural conditions can increase overall diversity and taxa richness of the system. Juvenile salmon and other fish are documented regularly at the site. Also, a kelp bed has developed off of the habitat bench, providing habitat for rockfish and crabs. With this monitoring, the habitat enhancements at OSP serve as a test-case for rehabilitation along highly-developed Puget Sound shorelines.

In addition, the park is providing new public access directly to the bay and opportunities for the public to be more in touch with Puget Sound. Each year, thousands of people visit the OSP. Recent surveys show that 42% of the visitors live in Seattle. OSP partners are confident that people who can touch the water have an increased environmental awareness and are more likely to support environmental causes because of this interaction.