Golden Gardens Park

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HOURS

6 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE PARK

Located in Ballard on Puget Sound, this popular park offers extraordinary views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

A recent project restored two wetlands, established a short loop trail, and restored the northern beach. Golden Gardens offers strolls along a rugged coastline, hikes through forest trails, sunbathing on sandy beaches, fishing from a pier and a boat launch.

The park is also home to an off-leash area for dogs in the upper northern portion of the park.

Volunteers are an essential part of the North Beach restoration project at Golden Gardens. Volunteers educate the public, assist staff with restoration work and many park projects. Please consider sharing some of your time and talents as a friend of Golden Gardens. Please call (206) 615-0691 for more information.

HISTORY

The park was named by and developed by Harry W. Treat in 1907 as an "attraction" at the end of the new electric car lines being built by realtors to induce townfolk to take a "Sunday outing" out of town and through the woods to a picnic or swim at a beach. (Along the way they were made aware of the real estate available!) The Carbine ended at Loyal Way (& 85th) with a steep twisting dusty path down into the park - or those owning a "tin lizzie" could drive down a dusty county road (approximately the present drive entering the upper park from the north) and down to a small parking area on the east side of the railroad tracks, then by foot across the tracks to the beach. At that time the northern half of Meadow Point (named by the Coast Guard) was the site of a shipyard until 1913. To the south the beach curved in along the railroad seaway - all the way to Salmon Bay. The State owns the tidelands south of the park, with boat works and yards by the Bay.

DIRECTIONS

BY BUS

> Plan a trip to Golden Gardens Park

BY CAR

I-5 Northbound or Southbound:

• Take exit to 85th St and head west.
• Follow 85th West to 32nd Ave. NW
• Take a left onto 32nd Ave. NW
• Travel south until NW 54th St
• Take a right onto NW 54th St
• Follow NW 54th St which turns into Seaview Ave NW to the entrance of the park.

Parking:

Large parking lot along beach & park with overflow parking lot east of park. Plenty of handicapped spots available.