The transformation of the 19th century mercantile port infrastructure into a new urban waterfront dedicated to the service economy and personal consumption has developed into a global model of urban development. The intention of this paper is to examine a recent tendency for the current model of waterfront development to change from one based on a traditional European urban planning model to one based loosely on that of the park. To highlight the move between the two modes of design production, the author uses six waterfront cases studies and focuses on how the provision of public space and problems of waterfront contamination are addressed. The paper begins by looking at three dockland redevelopment projects from the mid 1980’s to the present day. The development of public space within these three case studies is examined and the trajectory of a greater engagement with the public realm is discussed. The lack of commitment for the problem of environmental remediation is also considered. Three waterfront projects from the 2000’s are then examined, the idea of the park as an alternative design trope is proposed, a new definition of the park is suggested to include infrastructural concerns. The author argues that by rethinking the waterfront as a landscape, the development of a fully public and environmentally engaged waterfront city is possible.