In 1985, the city of Seattle designated Vine Street a “green street” in its plan for downtown. Unsure of what a “green street” was and unable to get a clear answer from the city, Vine Street residents began talking about the idea of a community garden. In the words of Carolyn Guise, the overall purpose is to "increase the amount of greenspace in Belltown by creating a parade of art and nature from Elliot Bay through the heart of Belltown."

As part of this larger goal, the Cistern Steps project was meant not only to mitigate backups of sewage into neighborhood basements and sewer overflows during heavy rains, but also to “conserve, play with, and enjoy” the water.