Published on September 24, 2021, Updated on September 25, 2021
About Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, WA
Located in between Lake Washington’s shore and industrial railroads, the site was previously used for various industrial purposes throughout the late 19th and early 20th century. Following the discovery of a major coal deposit in Coal Creek on the eastern side of Lake Washington in 1863, the site’s location was considered ideal for coal transportation. Coal was transported from Lake Washington to Seattle and eventually San Francisco.
The park is named after Gene L. Coulon, director of the Renton Parks Department from 1949 until his death in 1977. Coulon was born in 1916 in Seattle, Washington and attended the University of Washington where he played collegiate basketball. After graduation he served in the U.S army in World War II, then returned to Washington to work for the Renton Department of Parks and Recreation in 1947.
In the 1950s the City of Renton expanded its Recreation Department to accommodate the recreational needs of its citizens. This led to the creation of several new public projects including Renton’s first public swimming pool in 1955, and the development of Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park’s land. More Info.
The park was designed by the Jones and Jones architect landscaping company. The design integrates industrial building aspects with turn-of-the-century waterfront architecture. Buildings are spaced in serhttps://1greenplanet.com/renton/ies of both formal and informal landscapes, separated by strong features such as avenues of trees and open meadows. Additionally, the design includes multiple levels and interviewing paths. The diversity of these features is meant to facilitate a wide range of land use for both small and large groups.
The Gene Coulon Beach Park offers park wide entertainment. Being known for the two mile walking path alongside the beach, their two popular restaurants Kidd Valley and Ivar’s Seafood Bar come in a close second. In 2020, the Gene Coulon Beach’s park was under construction to add new park equipment. The Beach Park includes an eight lane boat/canoe launch, four covered pavilions with built in barbecue’s, swimming beach with an on-duty lifeguard, fishing dock, and volleyball, tennis, and horseshoe courts. (wikipedia)
Read:
