The city is planning to buy a property it envisions serving as a pedestrian connector between downtown Renton and the Cedar River Trail system.

The long, narrow, 0.64-acre property (Parcel 1823059262) sits between Burnett Place S. and Burnett Avenue S. across from the City Center Parking Garage at 99 Burnett Ave. S. The property, valued at $1,178,000 in 2025 by the King County Assessor, is currently being used as a parking lot.

While the details of what the property will ultimately become is still to be decided, the purpose of the property will be safe pedestrian connectivity to the trail systems.

“It was really a strategic parcel that we’ve had our eye on for a long time,” said Renton Community Economic Development Administrator Gina Estep. “This trail connection is intended to really connect our community’s spaces and places, and provide that safe, well-designed trail system that we know would be great for all ages to enjoy, really using as pedestrian mobility through and north of downtown.”

The move stems from the Civic Core Plan adopted in 2018, which focuses on “place-making” strategies in the downtown sector. The Legacy Square, Piazza Park and the Renton Pavilion and Events Center are key components of the plan’s HEART Block, a central civic meeting space designed to support the growth and development of public spaces in the downtown area.

“Our goal is really truly to create an outdoor arts and culture center with the complementary features of play. The city is putting quite a bit of time and energy and money into the renovation of the Piazza and transforming the pavilion into a public market,” Estep said. “So with all that going on, one thing that we’re focusing on is really connecting the city to these features.”

The intended future plans for this property will serve as a non-motorized pedestrian amenity connecting to Burnett Linear Park, which meets up with the Cedar River. Estep said this section would also be designed as a “dynamic and engaging public space” the city could use to integrate arts, nature and play space.

“We believe this project will improve safety and provide really greater accessibility to our downtown businesses. We also see this as an economic development tool and a way to support our downtown businesses by enabling easy access in and out of town from the north end,” Estep said.

Acquisition of the property is the first phase. The city has come to terms with the seller, Plutus 3 LLC, and is awaiting the proper approvals to move forward with the purchase. Next, the city will hold public engagement sessions to find out what the community would like to see in the space to accompany the trail.