The majority of the park is a grassy hillside that lies west of Lakeside Avenue S. and features tennis courts, picnic tables, and a playground.

Across Lakeside Avenue to the east is the western shore of Lake Washington and a small lawn with benches.

The cable car run from Pioneer Square that operated from September 27, 1888, to August 10, 1940, terminated here.

The Duwamish called the area "Changes-Its-Face" (Lushootseed: s7ayá7oos), referring to an enormous and powerful supernatural horned snake that was said to live there.

[1] From about 1890 to about 1910, Leschi Park was an important stop for steamboats which ran on Lake Washington.