Location: North Seattle
Address: 2101 N. Northlake Way
Acreage: 19.1
I chose a day with the worst weather to visit one of the city’s best parks. At least I had it mostly to myself, which is quite a contrast to a sunny summer day. Not to mention the type of crowd you’ll find here on any holiday involving fireworks.
Seattle has many incredible parks, but Gas Works Park is not like any of them. This is creative city planning at its best. The city converted the land around an old gas plant into wonderful urban parkland. A lot of people were unhappy that parts of the plant remain on the site, but I think it’s kind of cool to remember its history. The plant operated for the first 50 years of the last century before it was closed down. The park’s design is by Richard Haag.
Due to its tall hill and windy conditions, Gas Works Park is one of the best places in the city to fly kites, and on a warm day you can almost always see a few colorful kites high in the sky above the park.
It’s also a nice place for wedding photos, dog walking, sunset picnics and view-capturing photography. Kids love the covered play area that’s also originally part of the gas plant.
The negative environmental effects of the park include hazardous substances in the lake sediment immediately off shore, so this isn’t a good place for swimming.
But, the views of Lake Union and its many houseboats, seaplanes and kayaks will keep you plenty occupied… and perhaps, if you’re like me, entranced.
#243 (Visited 1/14/11)