Its most notable feature is a breaching whale sculpture called Takhu, designed by Alaskan artist Skip Wallen and built in Anaheim, California.

[2] Completed in 2018, the park includes the humpback whale sculpture and fountain, as well as public restrooms, a covered picnic area, benches and tables, and signs to direct tourists who walk over from the nearby cruise ship docks.

However, controversy arose when the Cruise Lines International Association, (CLIA) alleged that the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) "illegally" used "head tax" funds collected from each passenger to partially fund the building of the park itself, which the CLIA maintains violates the tonnage clause of the U.S. Constitution.

In his ruling, Judge Holland declared that the CBJ may continue to collect the per-passenger head tax, but must spend the receipts on projects that directly benefit the ship itself, not its passengers.

Both sides agreed that Judge Holland's ruling means that these funds cannot be used to build, maintain or expand the park.