Special Events & Networking

Seattle's pier and waterfront with a large party

Opening Reception

Pier 62

Sunday, June 23, 2024, 6:30 – 9 PM

Seattle’s waterfront is in the midst of a dramatic transformation, and Pier 62 is the inaugural site on the city’s future Waterfront Park. With the demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, a double-decker highway, and the creation of an underground tunnel covered by parkland, Seattle is reimagining its waterfront to be more open, welcoming, and sustainable.

With breathtaking views of Elliot Bay and the Olympic Mountains, Pier 62 is home to cultural events and festivals, often filled with locals and visitors alike. But the historic pier is also large enough to find your own piece of serenity. The new Alaskan Way reconnects the waterfront, and Pier 62, to adjoining downtown neighborhoods and the famous Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. 

All of this and more makes Pier 62 the perfect spot to open Greater & Greener 2024. 

Seattle’s Waterfront (Dzidzilalich) stands on the lands and shared waters of the Puget Sound Coast Salish People, whose ancestors resided here since time immemorial. With gratitude, we honor the land, the water, and its peoples.

Sponsored by:

Logo for Speedwell Foundation

Gas Works Park

Closing Reception

Gas Works Park

Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 6 – 8:30 PM

As Greater & Greener 2024 comes to a close, it’s time to wind down with friends old and new at Seattle’s iconic Gas Works Park. Sitting on the shores of Lake Union, Gas Works Park is a story of transformation, from a toxic, inhospitable environment to one of the first post-industrial landscapes to be transformed into a public park.

The park was once the site of the Seattle Gas Light company, a coal and oil gasification plant manufacturing the gas that supplied the city until 1956. The city purchased the site in 1962 and transformed it into an ASLA award-winning park, incorporating numerous pieces of the old plant into the new design. Gas Works Park is the site of the annual Fourth of July fireworks display. It’s been featured in films and has twice been chosen for the Amazing Race TV reality show. While there, climb Kite Hill for breathtaking views of the lake and the city.

Group of mayors on the Greater & Greener stage

Mayors Forum

Grand Ballroom, Westin Seattle

Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

At the Greater & Greener Mayors Forum, we explore the changing role of parks as critical urban infrastructure. Beyond reshaping our urban landscapes, how are cities redefining the design, governance, management, and programming of our public green assets, from downtown centers to surrounding neighborhoods, to promote community well-being and social cohesion?

Mayors will discuss how they are balancing competing needs for precious public spaces and parks; how these spaces need to evolve to meet changing conditions in the urban realm–including the conversion of downtown vacant commercial real estate to mixed-use development; and how these spaces should be designed to function as green infrastructure to make our cities more resilient and inclusive of people who live throughout the city.

Lunch is offered for this program.

Sponsored by:

Logo for Landscape Structures

Exhibition Hall Happy Hour

Exhibition Hall Happy Hour

Grand Foyer and Fifth Avenue, Westin Seattle

Monday, June 24, 2024, 5:30 – 7 PM
Join us for some casual libations and light fare at the Exhibition Hall Happy Hour! After the first full day of sessions and mobile workshops, kick back and relax during this casual networking opportunity with our exhibitors and your colleagues.

Ice Cream Social

Ice Cream Social

Grand Foyer and Fifth Avenue, Westin Seattle

Monday, June 24, 2024, 1:30 – 2:15 PM

We hope you left room for ice cream! After lunch, return to the Exhibition Hall for networking with exhibitors and fellow attendees while enjoying our popular ice cream social.

Sponsored by:

Logo for Central Park Conservancy

A group of parks and recreation professionals networking in a park

Walk & Talk

Various Seattle Parks

Monday and Tuesday, June 24 -25, 2024, various times

Join a City Parks Alliance Board Member and fellow Greater & Greener attendees on an informal walk through a local Seattle Park. With Seattle parks as your background, network with other parks and recreation professionals, meet and speak with City Parks Alliance Board Members, and learn more about City Parks Alliance. Check the conference schedule for days, times, and destinations.

Please note: These are not guided tours of the parks, but instead valuable networking opportunities.

 

A woman networking at Greater & Greener

Speed Networking

Westin Seattle

Monday and Tuesday, June 24-25, 2024, 3:45 – 5 PM

Get ready to amp up your networking game at Greater & Greener with our new speed networking event!

This event will take the guesswork out of networking by placing you in small groups of four people for fifteen minutes at a time. Groups will rotate three times during the event, for a total of four networking opportunities. With the rotations introducing you to a total of twelve different park professionals, you’re sure to make some great connections! Talk about whatever’s on your mind, or choose from a set of question prompts to get the conversation going.

Don’t forget your business cards!

Please note: This event will be offered twice during the conference. To maximize this opportunity for all attendees, we request that you only sign up for one session.