Gas Works Park

On the Grid : Gas Works Park

"This former gasification plant is now the best park in Seattle. The plant shut down in 1956 but several pieces were left standing and have been incorporated in the park. Take a walk through the 19.1 acres of rolling hills that stretch down to the lake. If you’re in town on the 4th of July, this is the place to be." - Wintr

10 Affordable Spring Break Destinations in the U.S. and Mexico

"A distinctive park on the lakeshore that combines industrial remnants with open lawns and sunset views, making it a favored spot for picnics and evening gatherings." - Lauren Dana Ellman Lauren Dana Ellman Lauren Dana Ellman is a New York-based writer and editor who specializes in travel, lifestyle, food, and shopping content. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

15 Wonderfully Repurposed Places

"Gas Works Park rises above the north shore of Lake Union, a vaulted rampart of rusted towers and pipelines that serve as a testament to a bygone industrial age. Once a productive gasification plant, which converted superheated coal and crude oil into synthetic gas, the curious structure has been preserved since the plant’s closure in 1956 and opened to the public as a park in 1975. The plant primarily provided the city with gas for energy during its half-century of operation. It was officially acquired by the City of Seattle in 1962. Landscape architect Richard Haag piloted the development of the project, and eventually went on to win an American Society of Landscape Architects Presidents Award for his design. Haag and his team were responsible for retaining most of the plant’s original structure, as well as introducing oil-degrading enzymes into the surrounding area to stimulate the breakdown of toxic contaminants in the soil.  In an interview, Haag stated that out of the 15,000 gas plants built across America, the gasification equipment at Gas Works Park are the last of their kind. Nowadays, Gas Works Park has been expanded into seven sections open to the public, although much of the works remains fenced off due to safety concerns (forming what has been beguilingly described as the plant’s “forbidden zone”). The park hosts everything from free concerts to athletic competitions to kite-flying and live action roleplaying tournaments. It remains one of the most popular free spaces in Seattle, and stands as a uniquely captivating draw to both locals and tourists alike." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

"Gas Works Park, Fremont by Wintr. This former gasification plant is now the best park in Seattle. The plant shut down in 1956 but several pieces were left standing and have been incorporated in the park. Take a walk through the 19.1 acres of rolling hills that stretch down to the lake. If you’re in town on the 4th of July, this is the place to be."

Where to Eat, Drink, and Watch the Fireworks in Seattle on the 4th of July | Eater Seattle

"For the city’s most famous fireworks spectacle, I found the display from Gas Works Park consistently rated among the best in the country; this year it offers reserved seating, expansive beer gardens to quench your thirst, and tickets in the $40–$60 range." - Maggy Lehmicke