Destination guide
Renton, WA: Gene Coulon Park on Lake Washington, and Where to Stay
Updated August 2026
Renton sits at the southern tip of Lake Washington, and its best-known attraction takes full advantage of that — 57 acres of lakefront park a short drive from anywhere in town.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park 5,400 feet of Lake Washington shoreline, with a swimming beach, a fishing pier, and rentals for kayaking and paddleboarding. Beyond the water there are tennis and sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, miles of trails with lake views, and a large, recently rebuilt playground with inclusive play elements. Ivar's and Kidd Valley both have stands right on the pier if you want fish and chips or a milkshake without leaving the park.
Events The park runs a regular calendar of things worth timing a visit around — a summer concert series, kids' fishing derbies, a 4th of July festival, and Clam Lights in the winter.
Quick facts
- Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park
- 57 acres of land and water on Lake Washington's southeast shore, with 5,400 ft of shoreline
- Named for
- Gene L. Coulon, Renton's parks director from 1949 until his death in 1977 -- renamed in his honor in 1978
- History
- The shoreline was once used for coal-barge loading and log storage before the city acquired it in a 1955 land swap with the Pacific Coast Railroad
- Amenities
- An eight-lane boat launch, a 900-ft pier, two miles of paved paths, tennis courts, and two lakefront restaurants
Where to stay
Sikes Vacations has a stay here, booked directly with no platform fee added at checkout:
See real-time pricing for these, or everything else Sikes Vacations has, on the rates & availability page.
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