Gas Works Park is a public park on the north shore of Lake Union, at 2101 N Northlake Way in Seattle. Its grassy hills and preserved machinery from the former Seattle Gas Light Company plant create an unusual setting for a picnic or a walk. Climb Kite Hill for views across the water toward downtown, the Space Needle and the boats on the lake. You can also see the old industrial structures up close, fly a kite or visit the playground, where former plant equipment has been adapted for children.
A gas plant becomes a park
Gas Works Park occupies the former site of the Seattle Gas Light Company’s coal gasification plant, which operated from 1906 to 1956. The city opened the park in 1975, preserving parts of the industrial complex as the site took on a new public use.
Landscape architect Richard Haag led the transformation. Rather than remove every trace of the plant, the design kept industrial equipment among the lawns and hills. The result gives the park its distinctive character: old pipes, towers and machinery stand beside open green space and the water’s edge.
The site is a notable example of turning former industrial land into a public park. Its history remains visible as you move around the grounds, though some parts of the old plant are not accessible.
Machinery, play areas and picnic space
The former plant structures are central to a visit. Look for the boiler room, which was converted into a picnic shelter with tables and fire grills. The exhauster-compressor building has also been adapted as a play area, with brightly painted machinery incorporated into the space for children.
Elsewhere, lawns and small hills give you room to sit, picnic or fly a kite. Kite Hill is the main rise in the park and a popular place to watch the lake and city from above. Its slope is steep, so shoes with a good grip make the climb more comfortable.
The park also has trails, and the Burke-Gilman Trail passes through the grounds. You can combine a walk or bike ride with a stop by the water, or take time to look at the industrial remnants and their contrast with the open landscape.
Views across Lake Union
From the north shore of Lake Union, the park looks south across the water toward downtown Seattle. Kite Hill gives you an elevated outlook over the lake and skyline; the preserved towers and tanks add an industrial foreground to photographs. Boats and seaplanes on the lake are part of the view, too.
Sunset is a good time to visit for changing colors over the water and city. On clear days, the skyline is especially easy to make out from the hill. The lawns make it simple to stay awhile with a picnic, but the park is also a straightforward stop if you mainly want a viewpoint and a look at the old plant site.
Gas Works Park is at 2101 N Northlake Way. When planning the drive, choose a nearby parking lot rather than relying on directions that can send you toward dead-end roads.
FAQ
Where is Gas Works Park?
It is at 2101 N Northlake Way on the north shore of Lake Union in Seattle.
What can you see at Gas Works Park?
The park preserves machinery and structures from the former Seattle Gas Light Company plant. From Kite Hill, you can look across Lake Union toward downtown Seattle.
How long do you need at Gas Works Park?
Allow about 1 to 2 hours to walk around, climb Kite Hill and spend time by the lake.
When is a good time to visit Gas Works Park?
Go near sunset for changing light over Lake Union and the downtown skyline.
Is there a playground at Gas Works Park?
Yes. A former plant building has been adapted as a play area, with old machinery incorporated into the space.
