So anyone who lives or works near the corner of Queen Anne and Roy Street are probably going to think that my judgmental capacity was impaired when I wrote this, but there is a reason why I have given this place five stars. As a pet owner, I enjoy taking Pugsly to parks for a walk and this park is conveniently located for me. Now anyone who has lived here over a winter knows that Seattle is a city where it rains a lot in the winter. Pet owners will understand that our dogs will go into most parks and get covered in mud, but that is not the case here. This park has concrete, a wooden deck and a lot of gravel on the ground. This means Pugsly can more or less do his business and not have to worry about getting covered in mud. There are a lot of trash cans around so it is easy to dispose of his poopies. There are bushes at the inside edge of the park and a few spaces with mulch where Pugsly can sniff. Behind the bushes at the back edge are colored lights that come on at night. The park is also has an incline which has a story of the area engraved into metal. It tells of the time when we used to have a trolley that went up and down the big hill that separates the upper and lower Queen Anne neighborhood. Take a few minutes and read about our local history. The colored lights are also under the metal edge of the center of the park. There are several metallic tabels with yellow metallic chairs you can sit at on a clear day. In the summer some of the tables even have umbrellas that they open. It is a great place to sit and people watch or just relax and enjoy a cup of coffee and tea and read. Sometimes some businesses will set up a table here with information or promotions. It is also a good place to meet other people who are walking their dogs. Pugsly likes it because he gets free treats sometimes from his friends. There are several Ginko trees in the park that turn a beautiful yellow in the fall. There is also a long stretch of grass and trees along the edge of Roy Street along the front of the park until you reach Emerald City Medical Arts. Along Queen Anne there are also several trees in small grass squares. So there are plenty of places for your fur baby to sniff and do their business. So that's why I give this quaint and somewhat different park five stars. I am also sure that Pugsly would give this place five stars as well. read more

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This is a different Seattle park, few trees, concrete and gravel blanket the ground instead of the grass you'd find at other Seattle parks. I used to live down the street from Counterbalance Park (recently moved to Ballard) and have always felt a special affinity for it. I've seen this corner of Roy and Queen Anne Ave change of the years (anyone remember the white stone Flintstone-esque building that used to reside at this corner?) So yeah, Queen Anne has changed but this little Park is an delightful gem. It is an Urban Oasis tucked between two busy streets. A great place to people watch, car watch, and grab a coffee from the coffee shops across the street to sit back and watch the city roll by. There are enough parks further up Queen Anne if you're looking for tucked away, leafy green and quiet parks with a scenic view: By Kracke, Parsons Gardens, Kerry Park, etc. Here, at Counterbalance Park the city embraces what it has become, noisy, colorful, and gritty. But in an aesthetically pleasing way. Visit it at night, enjoy the light show of kaleidoscope colors reflected on the urban backdrop. Breathe in Seattle. YOU made this city this way: busy, noisy, and gritty, so might as well enjoy it! read more

Counterbalance Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Confusion. That defines my reaction to Counterbalance Park the first time I saw it. Interest. That defines my reaction to Counterbalance Park the second time I saw it. And so it went on for many, many months. I spend quite a bit of time in Queen Anne. As far as the park, I like the tables and chairs that provide a bit of a rest stop on the walk back to the car, a hangout for a cup of coffee, or a place to just chill. I'm not a big fan of all gravel and concrete but it gives me a real urban feel. Don't get me wrong - I love the lush greenery of the Northwest but this is a nice change of pace. Some time went by and I went by Counterbalance Park at night. Whaaaaat? Totally different ball game with the colored lights. Pretty darn fantastic! Some may be bothered by being next to a busy street. It doesn't bother me because again, it brings that urban feel to it and I don't have a problem blocking out all that noise. The park is a nice change of pace and is definitely worth a visit. read more

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During the day, this park looks like little more than a sparse area with a couple of trees. By NIGHT, it's a magical rainbow wonderland! One might think this place is odd because for the most part, it is wide open space. There are very few benches, chairs, and trees which is rare for a park. But this park adds a lot of personalty to the area and is really beautiful at night - it's like a piece of color-changing artwork! This place makes for some great photos! Definitely walk by at night and check it out! read more

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An odd location for a mini-park. A name that only evokes a part of nostalgic Seattle history. At the corner of Roy St. and Queen Anne Avenue North, this park is a small urban spot, with wooden planks as ground, a few benches, and a few rows of new trees. Not exactly a tranquil place, but certainly better than a parking lot. People seem to look out at it from their cars as they whiz by, making a turn onto Queen Anne to go up the hill. read more

What an odd, yet cool park. Normally when I think of parks I think of greenery or jungle gyms. But this park is a concrete one with funky yellow chairs, glass blocks and lights that change colors at night. Definitely a primo spot for some cool photo opps. I had a meeting at a coffee shop just across the street and this park was the perfect spot to talk because the weather was lovely and the park was pretty empty. I think I ought to have more meetings here! read more

Alright, I don't live in Seattle and was only visiting for a few days; so I don't know the apparently disgruntled history the city's inhabitants have with this park's existence, but I think it's frickin' sweet! From it, there is a fantastic view of the Space Needle and then there's the park itself, in all its colorful glory of ever-changing rainbow patterns that're illuminated onto the wall by hundreds of tiny lights hidden behind a concrete wall. Throw in some solid wood planks and a few trees and benches and I think this is a sick, little place. My girlfriend and I spent about an hour out here one night messing around with exposure settings and shutter speeds and created an epic portfolio of picture movies and unaltered, shadow images. I say if you're visiting Seattle, go check this place out; especially if you're a photography lover (pro or amateur)... you'll have fun. For a random 2am photo shoot... we had a fantastic time. read more

I've lived across from this park for 3+ years now. Though the concept/idea of the park is great, it sadly attracts the wrong crowd. It's great to see people utilizing it when the sun comes out but most of the time it's a place for the homeless to reside (and scream at all hours of the night). Lower Queen Anne has definitely taken a steep decline the last few years. Also be careful on the wood planks, super slick when it's raining (probably not the best for Seattle weather). read more

"Concrete jungle thats what dreams are made of" When I first saw this park (in the daytime) I thought to myself "What a horrible place to put a 'park' in this concrete jungle". Its amazing how nighttime and turning the lights on can change your perception. At night I was completely in LOVE with this place. (Peep my profile picture) It is beautifully quiet on the weekends at night and a great spot for photo ops. It is conveniently located in lower Queen Anne at a pretty busy intersection. For anyone visiting friends or residents out running errands it is a neat little place to take a rest. read more

I cannot say this is an ugly Urban Park. I can say it is travesty of green park: from the the metal work, to the processed wood flooring to the night time multi-colored lights running all night, there is nothing sustainable nor appealing to a city with a claim on Green. read more

Counterbalance Park - The Most Green Park in the City At Night... - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I do not know any locals who use this park, oh wait, yes I do. Our local homeless transverse between here and the small courtyard down the street. If you enjoy watching traffic, then this is your matinee. People continuously refuse to turn right on red, improving your chances of hearing short beeps or long honks...depending on your luck. During the day, walking through here reminds me of District 12, but at night the dirty district get a Capitol feel. I still would not hang out here. Cough. read more

This place confuses me. But it is pretty from far away when you look over and think "hummm, lights, wonder whats going on over there..." answer, nothing but a big empty non green park that feels lonely to walk across. Sorry park, that felt mean, but I don't get you read more

During the daytime, this little corner park feels too open, cold (in the unwelcoming way), and sparse. Who would want to come here and relax with a book or a coffee? There are two busy, aka noisy, streets that border this lot. There is a lack of trees or anything to look at or add any sense of calm. During the day time, this park turns into a bright and vibrant landscape of different colors. It's a beautiful sight to behold when you're driving by on one of the two busy streets. But here's the rub dear reader...it closes at 10:00pm like most city parks do. Most people I know would love to go here and relax in the ambience during a warm summer night...but you would only have less than an hour to do so before you have to leave because it's "closed". Counterbalance Park is a great nighttime decoration but a disappointing park. read more

I love this place. I frequently walk through this park after I see shows at OTB or if I get soup at Metropololitan. The public art is mesmerizing and magical. There aren't many parks in the world that I would walk a block out of my way for and this is one of them. read more

For me, this place is mediocre during the day unless you are there to people watch. At night, it comes alive with lights and beautiful colors. I find myself going out of my way just to walk by. read more

It is an urban park- planks! just a few trees. It is an attempt to be a park with fewer of the park elements which I love.

Ok. By day, it's not much to look at, but at night it's very pretty. The rainbow of lights makes for a pretty view of an otherwise pain-in-the-ass intersection of Queen Anne. Once the trees grow up more, it might be more pretty by day, but it's a nice area for a weekend marketplace. read more

It's a whole other world at night. I wish they'd install a sound feature to go along with the lights, or upgrade the light features every now and then. read more

There is a recently arrived oddity to relish in Counterbalance Park, or Plaza as I wish it had been called. The new rock artworks which the Uptown Alliance designed and installed in the park this summer are obviously imitations of the stone work at the gorgeous Union Station Plaza in the International District. Murase Associates designed both 505 Union Station Plaza (at 5th Avenue South and Weller Street) and the original elegant Counterbalance Park. The Uptown Alliance put in their rocks because some of the public complained that there was nothing to look at in the daytime. Now there is, whether you would consider them homage to 505 Union Station Plaza and the basalt geology of the Cascades, or if you would consider them amusing. read more

For one thing, I love that this is a place in the city where you can just 'be' without having to be a customer :) You do not have to buy something to justify your presence because it's a pocket park! I have found it to be a great place to meet up with a friend and head out from there or just sit and enjoy the city on a beautiful day. Quietly cool at night. Nothing wrong with this space... read more