An unusual mixture of brutalist architecture and greenery, the 5.2-acre (21,000 m2) park, designed by Lawrence Halprin's office under the supervision of Angela Danadjieva, opened to the public on July 4, 1976, at a cost of $23.5 million.

[6] An expansion of the park that stretches several blocks up First Hill, including a stairway and wheelchair ramp, was opened in 1982.

[8] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 19, 2019, having been listed on the Washington Heritage Register in a unanimous vote on October 25;[5][3] it was also declared a Seattle Landmark by the city's landmarks preservation board in a unanimous vote on May 18, 2022.

The report has concluded that the park's problems could be remedied by numerous small changes: increased security patrols, better lighting, pruning back of certain plants, and above all increased use, both in terms of organized events and simply encouraging more convention center visitors to use the park.

[11] The strategy, only partly implemented as of summer 2005[update], seems to be succeeding: according to David Brewster of the FPNA, crime in the park is down 90% compared to that of 2002.