Legacy Square

Get ready, Renton! You’re about to feel the energy explode downtown with the full trifecta coming to life. Next month, you’ll walk through the doors and gates of Legacy Square, gather in Piazza Park, and tour the Renton Market. We want YOU there to celebrate the moment you helped make possible. This is your chance to be part of one massive grand opening.

On Saturday, June 6, join us from 1 to 8 p.m. for the official grand opening of Renton’s hat trick: Legacy Square, Piazza, and Renton Market, all located in the heart of downtown between S. 2nd and S. 3rd St. near Logan Ave. S. The festival will kick off in style with former Seattle Sounders player Brad Evans, a performance by the Hazen Highlander Marching Band, and a full lineup of live entertainment throughout the day.

LAUNCHING JUNE 6:

Legacy Square: The Arts & Culture Hub

Rising from a former gravel lot at S. 3rd Street and Logan Ave S., Legacy Square is the city’s newest "living room".

• Gathering & Play: Featuring a futsal court, in partnership with the RAVE Foundation, a children's play structure, and a 15-ft large-format screen, this space is designed for high-energy community events.
• The Stage: A performance shell and 15-ft large-format screen, the stage is perfect for arts and cultural performances, movie screenings, sporting events, and more. The mass timber structure is designed to optimize view lines to the screen and supports natural acoustic projection. The stage will also play host to musical guests and performers for a uniquely Renton experience.
• World Cup Ready: Launching just in time for the 2026 World Cup, this space is set to be the regional "Watch Party" headquarters, drawing thousands to Renton’s downtown core for events throughout the summer.
• Local Art: Showcasing public art by Renton-based artists, the Square showcases local character and identity.

Piazza Park: The Green Connector

The $2.8 million overhaul of Piazza Park creates the essential "outdoor lobby" for the Renton Market and a seamless pedestrian experience.

• Integrated Design: New seating, shaded areas, and paved paths use Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to keep the space safe and welcoming.
• Indoor-Outdoor Flow: The new south-facing canopy on the Renton Market space ties directly into the Piazza, creating a unified space for festivals, farmers markets, and casual daily use.

The Renton Market: Expanding Opportunity for Small Business

The ongoing transformation of the former Pavilion Event Center into a year-round indoor market will be a game-changer for local entrepreneurs. We will hand over the keys to our tenant upon completing our building improvements, allowing the next phase to begin. The tenants planned improvements over the coming months will ready the space for future vendors and activities.

• Small Business Support: Envisioned as a space bustling with small business kiosks and space for anchor tenants/restaurants, the Renton Market will provide a low-barrier entry point for artisans and small business start-ups after internal build-out is complete.
• Community Utility: The inclusion of a classroom kitchen ensures the space isn't just for commerce but also accommodates shared learning and culinary programming.
• Vibrancy and Movement: Moving from a sporadic event schedule to regular all-week operation provides consistent foot traffic for downtown businesses.

Be part of this exciting new chapter in downtown Renton and RSVP today at rentonwa.gov/hattrick. You won’t want to miss this! Free parking available at the City Center Parking Garage.

Curious about the transformation? Learn more about the vision behind the revamp in the HEART of downtown at rentonwa.gov/downtownupgrades.

The City is supporting the Legacy Square event team in selecting talent for live music and performances throughout the summer — and we want to hear from you. This is your chance to help shape the sound of the season.

Do you have a favorite local band you’ve been wanting to see take the stage? Now’s the time to nominate them to help kick off the Legacy Square summer lineup. From indie and rock to soul, pop, cultural performances, and everything in between, we’re looking for talent that reflects the energy and diversity of our community.

A quick poll lets you submit your nomination and vote for artists you’d love to see perform. It only takes a minute, and your voice helps influence the final lineup. All submissions will be reviewed in coordination with the event planner to help curate a season of performances that bring people together in the heart of downtown.

This summer, the stage belongs to Renton.

Nominate your favorite band and help us launch the season in style.

Nominate here!

Explore all the activities and updates on the square at rentonwa.gov/LegacySquare.

Construction update

Phase 1: Phase 1 is now complete! The only remaining task is the lawn planting, scheduled for spring.

Phase 2: Significant progress has been made downtown, especially on the screen structure. Currently, the focus is on completing the stage, with contractors expected to begin siding installation soon. The protective doors for the screen are anticipated to be delivered within the next couple of weeks.

Phase 3: Phase 3 centers on the playground. The design is finalized (see below), and installation is planned for mid-April. The playground is an all-natural wood structures from Earthscape Play designed by Northwest Playground Equipment Inc.

Help pick this summer’s opening bands at Legacy Square

Ready for a rockin' summer, Renton? The city is supporting the Legacy Square event planner in selecting talent for live music and performances. Nominate your favorite local band to kick off the stage this season. A quick poll lets you vote for the artists you’d love to see — it only takes a minute, and your voice helps shape the lineup. Nominate here!

Explore all the activities and updates on the square at rentonwa.gov/LegacySquare.

Happenings this summer

• For information on watch parties and upcoming summer events, please visit: rentonwa.gov/soccer2026events.
• Other resources, including business support and resources and project updates, visit rentonwa.gov/legacysquare.

The excitement is building for 2026, and Legacy Square will be at the heart of it! The City of Renton is inviting community groups, artists, performers, and local organizations to help activate the Square with free, inclusive programming from July 20 – October 1, 2026.

This is your chance to bring creative ideas, performances, workshops, markets, and family-friendly activities to downtown Renton, engaging residents and visitors alike while highlighting the city’s unique culture.

How the city supports partners:

• Access to Legacy Square, including stage, seating, and plaza
• Help with permits, safety, and logistics
• Promotion through city communications

Partner responsibilities:

• Manage staffing, volunteers, and event logistics
• Provide proposed schedules and audience estimates

If your group is interested, submit a brief statement of interest by January 9, 2026, to jkotarski@rentonwa.gov. Include your concept, preferred dates, estimated attendance, staffing plan, and relevant experience. Selected respondents may be invited to submit a full proposal, with potential funding support.

Read the full Request for Interest here: Rentonwa.gov/bids

Legacy Square will be a hub for community connection, creativity, and celebration all summer long — don’t miss your chance to be part of the story!

Weather permitting, Phase 1 will be complete at the end of the month. Futsal lighting as part of Phase 1 will be completed in early 2026. Phase 2 will begin soon. Phases 2 and 3 will be done concurrently. Phase 3 includes three murals, lighting, and play equipment.

Exciting progress continues at Legacy Square as Phase 1 approaches substantial completion! While much of the space is already taking shape, a few final touches are underway to bring this community destination to life.

The highlighted areas on the map above show where remaining improvements are still in progress. Please note: this update does not include the futsal court, which was fully constructed and surfaced in September 2025.

Here’s what’s happening over the next several weeks:

• Asphalt improvements (highlighted in blue). Final asphalt work including paving a 12-foot-wide access road.

• Lawn and irrigation improvements (highlighted in orange). Transformation from temporary surface to green space is underway! Crews are removing recycled concrete and installing planting soil, seed mix, and a new irrigation system. The work will begin this week and continue over the next few weeks. Underground utilities and a drainage system are already installed to efficiently route stormwater.

• Planting new trees (highlighted in magenta and green). Nine new trees will be planted throughout the site, including one new street tree.

• Concrete improvements (highlighted in magenta). Finishing touches are being added to some of the site’s key architectural features. This work includes the elevated viewing platform, three stairwells, two planter benches, and the concrete plaza. Concrete installation is weather-dependent, and completion is scheduled for mid-November.

• Concrete pedestrian sidewalk (highlighted in green). A new 160-foot stretch of pedestrian sidewalk will complete the path network. This work is weather-dependent and expected to be completed by late November.

A majority of Phase 1 is complete. The construction company for Phase 2 was recently approved by the Renton City Council. A grant from the State Department of Commerce will support the funding for this phase of the project. This portion of Phase 2 will be the installation of the stage.