Lower Design Details

Lower Project Area Goals

In the lower project area, we plan to create new public natural space and public access to Lake Washington. The goals of the lower project area are:

Replace the culvert with a new bridge to allow the creek to accommodate more flows beneath Rainier Avenue
Restore the lower creek channel and delta to increase the quantity and quality of refuge habitat for juvenile salmon
Improve fish passage by removing barriers
Create a healthier ecosystem through revegetation with native plants
Provide a new public shoreline access to the new natural area north of Rainier Ave S via a pedestrian pathway leading to Lake Washington
Provide a view of the creek, floodplain and lake from a new overlook
Construct road and pedestrian safety improvements along Rainier Ave S at Cornell Ave S

The following section explains how each element of the project works together to achieve these goals.

Click each button below to learn about the lower design elements

Improve stream and riparian habitat (includes creek, shoreline, and delta): Once the project is complete, Taylor Creek will meander through wetlands and native vegetation, and a place for Chinook salmon to take refuge on their way to Puget Sound. Learn more about how the project improves the ecosystem.

Replace culvert under Rainier Ave S: The existing 36-inch culvert is old and deteriorating. It is undersized for current and future creek flows. The pipe is too small for fish passage, and too small to pass the large amount of sediment that comes down from the canyon; it becomes blocked with sediment during storm events which causes local flooding. When the City replaces culverts, the new design must meet fish passage design requirements and be large enough for the increased rainfall we expect in the future due to climate change. These requirements ensure future resiliency and minimize habitat impacts. The Rainier Ave S culvert will be replaced with a 17-foot-wide bridge structure with a 6-foot opening underneath for the creek to travel through on its way to Lake Washington. The culvert will also be re-positioned onto City owned properties to improve maintenance access.

Improve corridor and pedestrian safety along Rainier Ave S: SPU plans to construct corridor safety improvements in coordination with the Seattle Department of Transportation including:

Better definition of the Rainier Ave S and Cornell Ave S intersection to increase safety for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
A sidewalk extension on the south side of Rainier Ave S across Cornell Ave S, with improved curb ramps.
A Rainier Ave S pedestrian crossing west of Cornell Ave S, with flashing beacons and center-lane refuge islands.

Replace sewer line: SPU will be replacing the existing combined storm/sewer line along Rainier Ave S which is in poor condition and needs to be realigned for the new culvert.

Replace water line: This work would involve re-routing and replacing the existing water main.

Replace drainage line: SPU will be replacing a catch basin near the driveway at 10032 Rainier Ave S and replacing the drainage pipe that crosses Rainier Ave S that connects to the combined sanitary sewer.

Restore natural creek channel and floodplain: The area near Pizzeria Pulcinella (Rainier Ave S and 68th Ave S) will be restored as a meandering creek with floodplain, bordered by native vegetation. It will have a much deeper streambed that provides water treatment and habitat for fish and wildlife. The new floodplain areas alongside the creek will offer wetlands, trees, and native plants to help shade the channel. By widening the creek channel, reconnecting it to the floodplain, and creating wetland areas, heavy rainfall and runoff will be better managed naturally during storm events. A public art sculpture will be installed near the northwest corner of the property. Learn more about the floodplain.

Public Art

In fall 2018, Brooklyn artist Olalekan Jeyifous was selected by the Office of Arts & Culture to create wayfinding artwork for the project site. Olalekan visited the Taylor Creek site and hiked into Dead Horse Canyon to familiarize himself with the area. In January 2019, he met with nearly 60 students from Kandelia (formerly Vietnamese Friendship Association), Rainier Beach Community Action Coalition, and East African Community Services to get their ideas and input on art concepts.

Members of Kandelia told Olalekan that the colors red and gold were significant to their culture along with origami cranes and the themes of peace and compassion. Olalekan incorporated these elements into the design of the sculpture and overlook archway. The East African Community Services participants contributed several design elements: many reflecting bright colors, intricate patterns and themes of peace, unity, and perseverance. Students from Rainier Beach emphasized that the art should depict people of color and the area’s link to nature—and these ideas are interwoven throughout the concepts below.

The patterns repeated along the retaining wall, footbridge, and railings represent different parts of an ecological system (such as water, rain, sun, plant life, and fish) and cultural motifs.

As Olalekan further refines his artwork, the designs, colors, materials, layout and cultural motifs may change to reflect community input and complement the design. Depending on available funding and constructability, some of the concepts may not move forward or could look different once constructed.