Gas Works Park
2101 North Northlake Way
Seattle, WA 98103 (206) 684-4075
- Good for Kids: Yes
76 Reviews for Gas Works Park
I love this place! I can climb hills, roll down them and then sit and stare at the city once I'm tired. At night it looks like a scene from Nightmare on Elm Street which is like the coolest thing. It makes me want to break out my red and green striped sweater and scare young wandering children.
Gas Works Park is good for adults, children and pets...bad for cripples. This place is really not all that wheelchair accessible and personally, if I was in one, I wouldn't let ANYONE wheel me around here. One moment of inattention and you're rolling straight into Lake Union at 90 miles an hour. Then again, that could be fun to watch so COME ALONG!
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You can take the MT26 Green Lake straight from downtown, or if you're hungry beforehand, just get off at the Fremont area and have a good meal before walking to the park. Or, just bike the whole way! There's tons of people biking there and also around the park. The view is perfect, the trees are wonderful, and the big hills just make for a lot of fun. There are also some geese that go around in the water. While we were watching the geese, this old guy came up and told us this whole story about how they used to use geese to eat the weeds and fertilize the mint farms (because geese don't like mint). I just searched online but cound't find anything about it. Does anyone know?
Anyway there's also this big barn-like area and one day when we were there (it was so good we went twice in a row!) the marching band was marching around up and down the hill and we were all watching them. How fun! A lot of people also play frisbee here!
Me: Hey hunny, what do you want to do today?
Hubby: I dunno. It's a Tuesday, and it's gorgeous outside, and you're home from work. What do you feel like doing?
Me: Well, I've been told that I'm as white as they get. Perhaps we could lay in the sun a little at Gas Works Park? What do you think?
Hubby: Yeah sure, that'll work. Should I bring Mafuski* with us?
Me: Yeah, I think that would be nice.
Gas Works is good for watching seaplanes take off and land, and watching the stupid Ride the Ducks go by in Lake Union. The lack of trees is kinda creepy, but it does give a good place to throw a Frisbee or just have a little picnic with your significant other.
On the downside, there is always a ton of Canadian Geese poop closer to the shore, and down by the water's edge is remnants of a hobo party gone astray.
*Mafuski is the name of hubby's old blanket. A drunk friend named it when they were back in college. Isn't that odd??
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Cool reuse idea.
Park was nice and interesting, but it not all that great for toddlers and small children. I'm surprised that the railing were so wide at the waterfront and the second level of the play structures. I know as a parent we're responsible for the safety of our children but one wrong look and they could fall. I had to keep a tight grip on his clothes because he loves water and would have climbed right in.
It was fun to see the sea planes take off and people flying kites.
Gas works is a local favorite. It's packed during the holidays (especially 4th of July) and it's quiet and serene on the weekdays. I come here often with friends during the summer to relax. It's perfect. We pack up a few bags of food and lay out by the water. It's always a sight to see. Not many people during the afternoons except a few dog-walkers. Being by the water never gets old!
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I went to this park with a group of friends on the 4th of July.
I have to say, I've never seen such impressive display of fireworks. The view is great, overlooking downtown Seattle.
There were lots of food stands, kid rides and activism groups.
The only qualms I had was that there were WAY too many people. It would be a clausterphobe's worst nightmare.
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Wow! When my friend said she was going to take us to a park with "weird metal things"...I had no idea what I was in for. Those "weird metal things" made for some creative photo opps. I think I definitely need to make a trip out here again one of these years with my photo buddies. I felt a little too self-conscious to really make some creative pictures while I was here with my friends today.
A great view of the Seattle skyline awaits you here. You can climb to the top of this hill, and get a great view of those weird metal things as well as the lake and everything. And there's these weird concrete things too. Lots of people here sunbathing, flying kites, and being romantic. A great place for a summer day. Definitely a place every Seattle visitor must see.
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I heart the hell out of Gasworks! I can see it from my apartment, and it never ceases to put a smile on my face.
On sunny days, my roommate and I like to go lay on the hill, sun bathe, read, and watch the boats and planes pass by.
I also really love the kites. (Hoping for one of my own someday) But watch out, because occasionally they crash into people! Ow!
Great people watching, and lots of doggies!
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Great views, awesome place to visit, walk around, roll down the hill, or have a picnic. Just great. Love Gasworks!
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What a crazy-fabulous place. Been there for many things- killing time, sunbathing, 4th of July (omg, crowded!), flying a kite, having a picnic....
So much room, beautiful site, cool structures. One great asset to Seattle.
Great view.
So open.
Plus the remains (whatever they are) are cool to look at.
It's a great park to just lay on the grass, sit on the grass and run around on the grass on sunny days.
I visited Gas Works Park on my first trip to Seattle, many mango seasons ago. It was the dead of winter: the remnants of grass were sparse, brown, and frost-covered; it was as cold and desolate as a post-apocalyptic wasteland. I loved it immediately.
On my recent return trip one of the few places on my "must-see" list was GWP. Our intrepid band walked therefrom Fremont (a bit of a trek, but safe enough on a Sunday afternoon), and enjoyed the spectacle of cardboard tube combat against the backdrop of corroded industrial machinery. But this time (early May) the grass was lush and green, there was a brilliant and clear sky, and the breeze was enough to keep the kites flying. It was marvelous!
There is that small matter of the peeling and corroded warning sign near the park entrance, the one suggesting that you wash your hands thoroughly after touching the soil or grass, and that you not let your dogs (or children) dig in the soil. It did give me some concern about coming back next time with a blanket and picnic basket. but hey! What are a few non-beneficial mutations among friends?
I look forward to going back during my next visit.
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Except for maybe a few parks in San Francisco this is the best park on the West Coast. Amazing views, interesting post industrial vibe, rolling hills, nice grass & trees, BBQ pits and tables, everything a park should be. I'm jealous of this park and Seattle in general.....
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I can also see Gasworks from my place. It 's great! It was especially fun yesterday during the Fremon Solstice Parade- watch out for naked bikers though! I love the kites and watching the boats. I always take friends and family down here. I can't wait until the 4th!!!
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Lovely place for picnics, kite flying, bbq, and gazing out on the cityscape. The grass is green and luscious. I didn't notice so much doggie doo, as some of the previous reviewers noted.
Excellent, unobstructed views of the city.
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This park is my oasis - my happy place. I jog here alone or with my chocolate lab almost every morning and it just makes my day brighter even if its raining. i love jogging up the "mound" and looking at the art on the ground then out at the water, the city and the rowers and sailboats. Even the refinery equipment puts a smile on my face. Sunny weekends are an extra special bonus when the bikers take rest after zooming down the burke gilman trail...in other words, I've seen a good many hot guys chilling here so take note girls! I've seen many photographers here with plenty to snap at and kites flying in the sky. Closer to summer the food stand opens up to serve hot dogs - sustenance after sweating it out on the trail.
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Very beautiful place to have a picnic and catch a view. Wife and I hit the local kite shop. She bought the cheapest thing they had and was flying the kite for a couple of hours. I bought some 50 dollar kite and spent 2 hours cursing and never did get the thing in the air. Oh well, it was a pretty day.
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A cousin in-law recommend the park as a great place to take photos. This was so true. You get some great pictures of the Seattle skyline along with excellent photos of the crazy pipes. If you are Seattle looking for some nice places to take photos check out this park.
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+2 stars: Post-apocalyptic machinery in a city park
+2 stars: Unobstructed views
+1 star: Relatively drunk-free!
-1 star: Dog crap on shoes at higher-than-city-average rates
Not bad, Gas Works Park. Not bad at all.
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During a beautiful Seattle summer day, there's few places better to toss around the frisbee or have a picnic that Gasworks Park. The park is spacious with soft grass, and has a beautiful view of Lake Union and all its boats. There's a nice breeze coming off the lake which makes Kite flying an especially popular activity.
The old gasworks which are part of the park give this place a really unique feel, and make it a great place to take visitors to the Northwest.
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My only real experience at Gas Works Park was July 4th 2006. It was definitely an experience (we got there like at 10 am and camped the spot all day for primo fireworks viewing). It was definitely pretty cool, maybe not something I'd ever do again though. The park is huge and beautiful. I definitely wouldn't mind coming back on a not so busy day and bring my dog (if they allow dogs..cus they didn't on July 4th), and fly a kite (of course bought from Gas Works Kite Shop nearby).
Anyway tips for people coming to the big events like July 4th. Sit in front of the walkways, because right before fireworks time...there are going to be a large influx of losers trying to screw your view at last minute and will stand on those walkways making your entire day's wait useless..(thank God a friend told me about this before I picked my spot). Also...make friends with people next to you so you can leave your camp spot without losing it...of course having a big umbrella, towels laid down, cooler, etc..is going to help...lastly..sneaking in alcohol is easy...put it in water bottles, and hide it towels...when they check your bag they just want you to show what's in it..they don't expect you to pull out everything..it was kind of funny carrying in a cooler full of ice, orange juice, soda, and all the other mixers for drinks..yet they expected nothing. Anyway my July 4th at Gas Works Park was definitely my most memorable July 4th experience. I actually felt Patriotic for like a good 30 minutes =P.
~G
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Recently moved right down the street from here....for some reason my dog has gas now...I'm not pointin fingers but.....It's your name!!!!
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I initially wanted to host my wedding here because of the giant sun dial on top of a gorgeous hill overlooking the stunning skyline... Only to find that a: old people don't like to climb hills, 2: They want you to reserve the park for a minimum of 2 hours ($100/hour + staff compensation), and d: i'm cheap.
I didn't "officially" "reserve" the "park", but I got married there anyway. It was the best day of my life. Also it was free. The week of my wedding (first week of August 2006) was HOT HOT HOT, but, miraculously, the fifth rolled in with a nice high of 79', and I didn't break a sweat.
I'd steer clear of the picnic area after dusk, unless you WANT to be accosted by hobos... I mean... maybe you're into that. But it's a gorgeous park. Plus it was in a movie. Bonus.
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I visited some great friends in Seattle recently and was so enchanted by this place. It's got a great view of the city and the waterfront. I just loved the old machinery set against this hilly, water landscape. Its a great place to walk/ lay around, have a picnic. Very rad! It'd be cool if there was a brewery on the grounds somewhere...nothing too huge, just a place to get a couple pints and enjoy the day.
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I came here on a recent visit to Seattle. My cousin told me to check the park out because you could get some good pics of Seattle and wow was she right. Its a really cool city park with crazy, old pipes all over the place, beautiful grassy hills as well as being right at the water. Definitely a good spot to get some shots of the Seattle skyline.
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I've read that they have just discovered tar bubbling up from the grounds. This used to be a gas refinery in the 1950's until the city bought it and turned it into a park.
Based on that shady history who knows what kinds of horrors lurk in the area. Perhaps mutant lobsters live just below the surface of the water at the edge of the park just waiting for a unwary person to step too close. Maybe the park is laced with underground tunnels filled with mutant mole monsters, just looking for the opportunity to gobble up any one unwise enough to enter the park after dark. The mind reels with possibilities.
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One of the best views of the city. And it's a former Superfund (toxic waste) site! Woo! My parents like that show "Amazing Race" and when they visited from out of town I took them here. We stopped in the parking lot and I told them that this was the park where they started one of the recent seasons. My dad said in a casual manner, "Oh, okay. That's cool. Is there anything to see here or did you just want to show this to us?" I informed him there was indeed stuff worth seeing and took them to the top of the hill for a great view (and the exact spot where they started that season's show). I asked my dad if this was worth getting out of the car and seeing. He assured me it was.
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Nice way to reclaim an antiquated industrial area. Gas Works was a nice place to romp around while watching kite-flyers, cyclists, joggers, and even a bridal party mugging for portraits.
Interesting view of the city from here good for landscape shots; we came here on the way to Fremont so its worth a scenic stop.
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A really cool park to walk around...especially for a tourist like me. It screams industrial and it's good that the city keeps it around despite everyone's statement of it being a rusted eye sore with toxic waste residue.
Tons of hills to lay down on and climb. People watch, have a picnic, and enjoy the spectacular views of Seattle's Downtown Skyline.
The weather has be beautiful and we watched the sunset over the buildings. Definately a great place to take photos to remember Seattle and to enjoy the spectacular views!
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Some of the best moments of my life have happened here. Laying in the grass in the summer, holding hands, and watching kites fly overhead after a raucous night of drinking might be the most lovely and disgustingly innocent hangover cure out there.
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Gas Works Park is a good idea with great views, and lots of goose poop.
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My favorite sunny weekend routine is to walk to Gas Works Park via Westlake and Fremont, picking up a cup of coffee along the way. It offers a gorgeous panoramic view of the Seattle skyline across Lake Union. This park is perfect for anything and everything, napping, sunbathing, people-watching, throwing a frisbee, kite flying, playing with your dog, picnicking, children...anything. Although it can get fairly busy on a sunny day you never feel overwhelmed by the crowds. A great place to pass a relaxing afternoon.
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Located right on the water with a beautiful view of the city. Great for a picnic on a warm day or hauling ass on an ice block down the hill. I'm fond of the creepy Gotham styled old machinery.
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The view of downtown Seattle is amazing - basically a postcard view. Loads of stuff to do - climb the hill, walk around, fly a kite, etc etc.
Now, Gas Works would be the best park in Seattle, if it weren't for one itty-bitty thing. It's contaminated from years of burning coal in the now defunct plant still on-site.
Gracias PSE for "for the release of hazardous substances to the Lake Union sediments adjacent to Gas Works Park (Gas Works Sediment Site)"
To be fair, it's not necessarily the park itself - they've been pumping the crud out of the soil for years. It's the soil underwater in Lake Union right off this site. Still, yuck.
http://clerk.ci.seattl...
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This is a great park to take a stroll and look at the old oil-to-gas refinery that polluted the site for many years. Don't dig in the soil (stop your dogs and kids from doing it) because less than a foot down is some pretty toxic stuff (I am quite serious). Also, do not go in the water, the sediments along the shoreline there are pretty toxic also. There is a clean-up effort scheduled to dredge this area and cap it, but until then, look but don't swim there. But, it is a pretty nice place to hang out, have a picnic, fly a kite, and look at the city skyline.
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I want to take this park home with me. Seriously. From the looks of it, it looks like a a bunch of grass and a big dirty area with weird metal things and a lot of homeless people. Looks from far away can be deceiving because its really not like that. This park is pretty big. Big enough that an Olympic runner can run around it and get tired.
As a kid Gas Works Park wasn't as heavily populated and now it is over come with kites and Californians looking for sand. Regardless, it's still one of my favorite places to have a picnic or take the pup to and play fetch.
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On a rare sunny day, this is the type of place where you can relax and enjoy the view of downtown seattle. I am new around the area and this can be a nice tourist-ish attraction.
Myself and my dog both love this park. Lovely hills, lots of birds for him to chase, a beautiful vista, and some great people watching mount into a gigantic hurrah for this park. One day I couldn't help myself and sat on the rock wall and dipped my feet in (this was summertime). A passing boater told me the water was contaminated so I should rethink putting my feet in the water. I shrugged it off and kept lounging.
Later as I was peeling my skin from a wicked shin sunburn and an unexplainable rash between my toes, I wish I heeded that nice boaters advice. MINUS ONE FOR YOU, NASTY SLUDGE WATER!
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One of Seattle's notable parks. It is on the site of a 1906 plant to manufacture gas from coal, and has been a park for more than 30 years now. The remnants of the machinery used are still present, some fenced off, some not. There is a fantastic view of south Lake Union and the tops of the downtown buildings. The park was designed by Richard Haag, for which he received the American Society of Landscape Architects Presidents Award for Design Excellence.
Gas Works is located next to the Burke-Gilman trail, which makes it a great place to start or end a bike trip. Gas Works is also a short hike from a number of nice neighborhood shops and restaurants. If you do find yourself there in the rain, be aware some of the grassy areas get pretty muddy.
If you live in Seattle, you should go to Gas Works at least once. The location is great for outdoor fun in the day and wonderful views in the evening. Go early, go often, and go with friends.
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Perfect for:
reading on the grass during a rare sunny day
snowboarding down the hill on a rare snow day
watching fireworks on NYE and 4th of July
watching the boats on the first sailing day
picnicking when the weather turns warm
strolling through with an umbrella
walking/running with your dog or by yourself
A lovely and interesting park with amazing views and rolling hills.
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