SEATTLEITE AND SEASONED CIVIC PROJECT LEADER JOY SHIGAKI NAMED NEW PRESIDENT & CEO OF FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT SEATTLE

Joy Shigaki is the new President and CEO of Friends of Waterfront Seattle

Under Shigaki’s Leadership, and in close Partnership with the City of Seattle, Friends of Waterfront Seattle Will Continue Fundraising for Stewardship, Maintenance and Free Public Programming of the New Waterfront Park Set to Open in 2025

Waterfront Park Will Help Revitalize Downtown and Reconnect the City and People with the Salish Sea

Joy Shigaki, a fourth-generation Seattleite and national leader in helping fund, deliver and program civic projects like major parks, has been named the new President & CEO of Friends of Waterfront Seattle. 

Through an effective public private partnership with the City’s Waterfront Seattle program, Friends of Waterfront Seattle has been working since 2014 in support of the City of Seattle’s efforts to revitalize 20 acres along Seattle’s shoreline. 

Waterfront Park will be an expansive new urban green space developed through an extensive community planning process that engaged Seattleites from all walks of life. The new park includes hundreds of new trees, lush native gardens, viewpoints with seating, a pedestrian promenade and dedicated cycle path, play areas, and 11 different west-to-east green streets weaving neighborhoods all along the park into an integrated whole. Committed to the highest quality stewardship and visitor experience, Friends exists to ensure that the park is well funded and cared for, and that its programs meet the needs and are representative of our region’s diverse cultures and communities.

Shigaki most recently served as Campaign Director building the new Presidio Tunnel Tops Park as part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, a $98 million effort.

“The new Waterfront Park is a tribute to the people, landscapes and traditions that define Seattle,” said Joy Shigaki. “I am so honored to lead Friends of Waterfront Seattle and help reactivate our city’s shoreline, reenergize downtown Seattle and create a new dynamic, inclusive public place for people to come together and build new connections with each other and our natural environment.  It will be a space centered in community, belonging, safety, and joy.” 

With deep roots in Seattle’s communities and its history, Shigaki understands the importance of honoring partnerships in this work.

“Joy’s knowledge of the waterfront’s history from the times of Chief Seattle to the resurgence of the culture and sovereignty of local tribal nations will serve us all well,” said Leonard Forsman, Chairman of the Suquamish Tribe.

“Joy Shigaki's experience and commitment to parks and partnership show why she is the right leader to lead Friends of Waterfront Seattle forward and help deliver the spectacular Waterfront Park,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “The Waterfront Park is going to be a park for all of Seattle’s residents, helping unify us around our shared One Seattle vision.”  

Shigaki said, “Connection is at the heart of Waterfront Park. Through partnership and collaboration, storytelling and lifting up the voices of communities often not heard or seen, we are building a park that includes everyone, centers our diverse histories, and reminds us of this beautiful place that we live in.”

Shigaki brings fresh momentum to Friends of Waterfront Seattle at an important time for the organization, with park construction well underway, the Campaign for Waterfront Park recently crossing the halfway point of $100 million, and Friends’ programming on Pier 62 hitting record numbers as tourists and locals return downtown.

At $200 million, the Campaign for Waterfront Park marks the largest investment in public space in Seattle’s history.

“Our community’s generosity has been extraordinary,” said Maggie Walker, Board Chair of Friends. “Never in Seattle’s history has there been such an ambitious vision and campaign for a public space, and Friends of Waterfront Seattle is excited to have Joy Shigaki lead Waterfront Park forward.”

"We are on the cusp of reconnecting our vibrant downtown with our waterfront. Waterfront Park will be a center of the downtown Seattle experience for visitors, workers, and residents from across the Puget Sound,” said Jon Scholes, President and CEO, Downtown Seattle Association. “We look forward to working with Joy, Friends of Waterfront Seattle, our members, and the community to help deliver and celebrate this generational project for our downtown."

More about Joy Shigaki:  As fourth generation Seattleite, Joy Shigaki was fortunate to be raised in and around Seattle’s parks including picnicking on her mom’s rice balls and chicken at Discovery Park, running wild on warm summer nights at Rainier Playfield and Southshore while her dad played softball, attending annual church picnics at Lincoln Park, walking at low tide at Alki Beach, and gathering for birthday parties and community events at Seward Park. Joy’s early experiences in Seattle shaped her lifelong commitment and belief in parks, public spaces and public lands, which make for dynamic cities.  Shigaki most recently served as Campaign Director building the new Presidio Tunnel Tops Park with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in San Francisco, a $98 million effort, and James Corner design. Previously, she spent a decade in senior leadership fundraising roles with the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and Coro New York Leadership Center.  In addition, she served as Capital Campaign Manager of Wing Luke Museum, creating the first permanent home.

Friends of Waterfront Seattle is the nonprofit partner to the City of Seattle responsible for helping to fund, steward, and program Waterfront Park — today and into the future. Friends is conducting a $200 million fundraising campaign for park construction and to support public safety, operations, and free public programming. The first piece of the park — the rebuilt Pier 62 — is now open while the rest of Waterfront Park is under construction. Visitwaterfrontparkseattle.org for more information on Friends of Waterfront Seattle and upcoming public events and programs at Pier 62.