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Seattle, Washington / Parks and outdoors

Green Lake Park

A beloved 324-acre urban oasis in north central Seattle, featuring a 2.8-mile paved loop, glacial lake shores and historic Olmsted design.

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Green Lake Park
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What is Green Lake Park known for?

Green Lake Park is one of Seattle's most beloved parks, featuring a 2.8-mile paved walking path, two lifeguarded swimming beaches, sport courts, a wading pool, and non-motorized boating access.

What activities can I do at the park?

Visitors can use the 2.8-mile paved walking path, visit the swimming beaches, use the wading pool, access non-motorized boating, or use the ball fields, playground, and pickleball courts.

Are there swimming areas?

Yes, there are two lifeguarded swimming areas: West Green Lake Beach and East Green Lake Beach.

What are the hours for the wading pool?

The wading pool operates daily from June 23 to September 3, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

What are the hours for the Green Lake Community Center?

The community center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; it is closed on Sundays.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

Green Lake Park is one of Seattle's most beloved urban sanctuaries, spanning 324 acres of glacial lake and shoreline. The park's layout was part of John Charles Olmsted's 1903 plan to create a citywide system of parks and boulevards, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. The design features curvilinear drives and a 2.8-mile paved walking path that encircles the lake, a feature proposed by James Frederick Dawson in 1917. Geologically, the lake's basin was carved out approximately 50,000 years ago by the Vashon glacier. Over the last century, the park has evolved; it was given to the city by the State of Washington in 1905 and underwent significant changes between 1907 and 1912. During this period, the lake was diked, dredged, and filled, which caused the water body to shrink by nearly 100 acres to create more usable shoreline and athletic fields to the northeast. Today, the park serves as a hub for recreation. Visitors can access non-motorized boating at the Small Craft Center at 5900 W Green Lake Way N, or enjoy lifeguarded swimming at West Green Lake Beach and East Green Lake Beach. The park also hosts a variety of sport courts, including pickleball courts, a playground, and a Green Lake Community Center located on the east side of the park.

Visitor tips

  • Walk the full 2.8-mile paved loop to see all the park's amenities, including the beaches and community center.
  • Visit the Small Craft Center at 5900 W Green Lake Way N for non-motorized boating access.
  • If visiting the Community Center, note it is open Monday through Friday 10am to 9pm and Saturday 8:30am to 5pm.

Nearby context

Located in the Green Lake neighborhood of north central Seattle, the park is a central focal point for the community, surrounded by curvilinear drives and residential areas.

Sources

Evidence and links