September 25, 2026
It was an exceptionally busy summer in Seattle this year, made even more so by the global soccer tournament festivities. The Duwamish Valley got in on the action and the Port of Seattle was able to host and support many fun events with the community!
Terminal 5 visit
In May, about 40 community members, many from the Duwamish Valley, joined us for a behind-the-scenes tour of Terminal 5. Hosted in partnership with the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) and Port of Seattle (POS) staff, the event offered a closer look at how cargo moves through the terminal and how port operations connect to the broader regional economy.
Kate Nolan and Lindsay Wolpa of the NWSA educated community members on a variety of maritime topics, including the role of NWSA, the gateway's economic impact and an overview of the NWSA Clean Air Strategy, which aims to phase out air and climate pollution from gateway operations by 2050.
One of the most interesting parts of the presentation was learning what actually moves through the marine cargo terminals. Top exports include hay and forage, frozen potato products, scrap paper, soybeans, and paper and paperboard, while top imports include furniture, machinery, motor vehicles, plastic products, and toys and games.
Attendees boarded a charter bus for a 45-minute tour of the terminal. Guides explained how cranes, trucks, and yard operations work together to move containers from ship to shore and on to their next destination.
One attendee wrote, "I was genuinely impressed by the team's knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication ... I'm still wondering how I was fortunate enough to be included!" Another shared, "Crossing the low bridge daily, I've always been fascinated by the sheer scale of the Port. This tour provided excellent context and information, deepening my understanding of port operations and the maritime economy."
Annual Duwamish River Multilingual Boat Tour
In early June, th
e Port of Seattle hosted its annual Multilingual Boat Tour, welcoming more than 150 community members.
This year, the event placed a special focus on high school youth. We extended invitations to youth cohorts from the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps (DVYC), Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association (DVSA), Chief Sealth High School, Maritime High School, Cultivate South Park, Villa Comunitaria, the Community Health Advocates from King County's Toxic to Eat, Fun to Catch youth cohort, as well as youth from the Cham refugee community and East African youth from White Center. Live interpretation was available in Spanish, Khmer, and Vietnamese so families could take part fully in their preferred language.
Port Commissioner Fred Felleman opened the tour with a warm welcome and a grounding introduction that set the stage for the day. As the boat made its way toward Duwamish River People's Park, staff from the Port, Northwest Seaport Alliance and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) narrated the journey, covering the river's environmental history, ongoing cleanup and restoration work, and the economic role this beloved river has played and continues to play in the region.
When the boat paused at Duwamish River People's Park, the program turned to the youth themselves, where a panel of young people shared what it has been like to grow up in the valley, the opportunities they have found, and how they think about building community resilience in the midst of a challenging economy and community tensions. Their honesty and perspective were a highlight of the day.
On the return to Harbor Island, community partners took turns at the microphone and representatives from each participating organization shared how their work connects youth and families to the river and the neighborhood as well as community announcements.
Gateway Park North Activation
In July, Port Community Action Team (PCAT) members worked with several Duwamish Valley organizations to host a full-day activation of Gateway Park North in Georgetown. Three different governments have jurisdiction over the park: Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Department of Transportation, and the Port of Seattle. This park provides the neighborhood’s only access to the Duwamish River and has been stewarded by the community for decades. Several current PCAT members are long-time Georgetown residents and share a deep appreciation and passion for the park. Filling the park with art and music through annual events brings people to the park and demonstrates the value of the community’s investments. This year, more than 180 people attended and participated in live music, art stations, plant giveaway, free food, and a paddle along the Duwamish River lead by the River Access Paddle Program.
Duwamish River Festival
In August, the Port sponsored the Duwamish River Community Coalition’s annual Duwamish River Festival. The festival celebrates the rich diversity of local communities and honors the wildlife and ecology. The Duwamish River Festival brings together community-based organizations, public agencies, and industry partners to support public education and engagement about the Duwamish River. Port staff and interns participating in the Port’s High School Internship Program supported engagement at the Port booth and shared educational materials with festival attendees.
This year the festival was hosted at the Port-owned Duwamish River People’s Park (DRPP) and Shoreline Habitat, a 14-acre waterfront. The site supports recovery of the endangered Southern Resident orca population by significantly increasing habitat critical to abundance and health of Chinook salmon. The Port regularly partners with community-based organizations in Duwamish Valley to provide tours and support educational activities at the site. The maturing habitat is maintained by Port staff and aspiring environmental practitioners from the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC). Port staff work closely with WCC Restoration crews to plant native species, remove invasive species, monitor, and maintain the habitat restoration at the site.
Port University Duwamish River Boat Tour
In September, the Port hosted Duwamish River 101, a free educational tour of the five-mile long waterway as part of a series that educates the public about Port operations including the Duwamish River, the Ship Canal, SEA Airport, and maritime cargo.
This tour highlights the importance of the Duwamish for commerce and jobs, fish and wildlife habitat, and public access to the shoreline. Community attendees learned about marine industrial commerce, the legacy of past industrial activities, fish and wildlife habitat restoration, and Superfund cleanup plans. Boat tour attendees included 160 near-port community members, agency and industry partners from across South King County.
Port staff were joined by narrators from the Port Community Action Team, Duwamish River Community Coalition, Environmental Protection Agency, the Northwest Seaport Alliance and Crowley.
