Gas Works Park - Photo courtesy of Yogush Mhatre via Flickr
Seattle has long been known to be counterculture. From the early grunge bands of the 90s to the origination of Starbucks and heavy rains, there’s always been something indescribable that makes Seattle the great city that it is.
Little more epitomizes the city in this way than Gas Works Park on the north shore of Lake Union. Constituting 19.1 acres of public land which used to be the site of a giant gasification plant, there is an eerie air of mystique and romance about the rusting ruins of a gas plant settled on these pristine shores.
These rusting structures of a once-great industrial machine have now turned into playgrounds, and Seattleites flock to this odd confluence of beauty to picnic, fly kites, or let their children play amid these giant rusting sculptures. A favorite pastime of the park is to head on up the winding path that leads to a commissioned public art work. From here you have a great view of Capitol Hill, downtown, and Queen Anne Hill. Boats and seaplanes often scoot in and out of this little waterway, and come the Fourth of July, this is perhaps the best place in all of Seattle to see the firework display.
Though it might seem odd to frolic among these old industrial giants, chalk it up to the strength and innovation of the city of Seattle to take a public eyesore and turn it into something beautiful, something to write home about. Not every city can claim that fame. Guess it’s just part of what makes Seattle the great counterculture city it is.
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May 7, 2012 by Viator
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