Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park is a public park located in Renton, Washington along the southeastern shore of Lake Washington. According to Wikipedia, it consists of 57 acres of land and water, including 5 acres of grass and 5,400 feet of shoreline. I spent the better part of an afternoon here in May 2021. The park is off Lake Washington Boulevard near the Southport Drive exit of the I-405 freeway. If you’re familiar with either The Landing center or the Boeing facility in Renton, the park is a little north of those spots. There is a good deal of parking, with an area near the boat launch dedicated to boat trailers. NOTE that this is a popular park, so bring your patience as the parking can fill up quickly. There is a walkway where many people take strolls, a large grassy area where you can spread your blanket and enjoy a picnic, a lot of benches and tables at which you can sit, a gazebo if you want a covered area, a couple of restaurants (Ivar’s and Kidd Valley) with both indoor and outdoor seating, a relatively small sandy beach, a playground, and a dock/walkway that extends over the water. There is also a marked interpretative walk and some impressive outdoor sculptures. The day I was at the park the weather was mild, the water was fairly calm, a few people were fishing off the dock, people were strolling, ducks and geese were hanging around, and a light breeze was blowing. It was all pretty idyllic, and it pained me to have to leave and head to the airport. If I have the time the next time I visit Renton, I’ll definitely be back!

Because I was staying at the nearby Hyatt Regency Lake Washington, I (and anyone else there) had smooth access to the Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, just steps away from the hotel’s refined facade. The park is simply gorgeous. It winds from the southern tip of Lake Washington (i.e. where the hotel is) all the way up the eastern shore of the lake, and a walking trail continues further into the Bellevue area. The park may appear quite small, but the length of it is really impressive and offers spectacular views (many views) of the pristine Pacific Northwest terrain. Amenities for visitors include free parking, restroom stations, docks for boats and fishing, picnic tables, playgrounds, and two small eateries; do note that during COVID-19, these spaces were closed off (except some restrooms, parking, and docks). Plan accordingly when you travel during the virus...the park is excellent for practicing social distancing, but just don’t get your hopes up with anything else than walking on trails! With the great location and magnitude of natural wonders, I highly encourage folks to make a stop at the Gene Coulon Beach Park when in the Seattle area. No need to spend all day, but make sure you get as much out of it as you can. Check it out!

Absolutely, hands down, a fantastic place to visit...walk along the water, play on the massive playscape, eat at the docks, swim, observe nature. Our one hour turned into a half a day a d repeat the next day.