Waterfall Garden

Waterfall Garden Park is a small urban oasis located in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood. Created in 1978, this pocket park occupies the site of the original United Parcel Service (UPS) headquarters building. The park measures just 60 by 80 feet in size but makes efficient use of its limited space.

The centerpiece of Waterfall Garden Park is a dramatic 22-foot high artificial waterfall constructed with natural granite boulders. The waterfall pumps and recirculates 5,000 gallons of water per minute, creating a soothing ambient sound that helps mask urban noise. The park was designed as a modern interpretation of a Japanese garden by landscape architect Masao Kinoshita of Sasaki Associates.

The park features two main levels connected by steps. The upper terrace provides seating areas with movable chairs and tables, while the lower terrace offers closer views of the waterfall. Lush plantings including Japanese maples, azaleas, and seasonal flowers surround the water features. A glass and steel canopy covers part of the upper level to provide shelter.

Though privately owned and maintained by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Waterfall Garden Park is open to the public daily from 8am to 5:45pm. It offers workers and visitors to Pioneer Square a tranquil spot to relax, have lunch, or simply enjoy a brief escape from the surrounding city streets. The park's innovative design in a compact urban space has made it a model for other pocket parks in dense city environments.