Seattle waterfront receives $45M donation to connect parks

Thanks to a large private donation of $45 million, a new walking and bicycling path will be built connecting two parks on Seattle’s waterfront, with the goal of completing it ahead of the city hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Seattle is one 16 North American cities — 11 of them are in the U.S. — that will host matches in what is considered the largest soccer tournament in the world.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, philanthropist Melinda French Gates and several other city officials and organizations, announced Wednesday a new greenway would be built between the new Waterfront Park to the Olympic Sculpture Park.

The project, called Elliott Bay Connections (EBC), would be entirely funded by private funding managed by the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA). Philanthropists Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott, The Diller-Von Furstenberg Family Foundation, and the Expedia Group are the donors to the EBC project.

“Seattle’s waterfront is a truly one-of-a-kind place with something for everyone: visitors, families, residents, and workers alike,” Harrell said. “Elliott Bay Connections advances our decades-long efforts to reconnect the city to the waterfront, ensuring a seamless transition from downtown and safe, accessible pathways to experience the natural beauty of our region.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/seattle-waterfront-receives-45m-donation-233154241.html