Cowen Park

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HOURS

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

ABOUT THE PARK

A generally quiet enclave north of the University of Washington, Cowen Park is tacked onto the west end of Ravenna Park, adding grassy play and picnic areas to the ravine that descends toward the southeast. Here you will find a softball field, a few picnic tables and barbecue pits, a play area with swings and climbing bars, and restrooms. Three tennis courts are located just east of the 15th Avenue Bridge. In the summer, Cowen is a popular sunbathing spot.

Excerpt from "Enjoying Seattle's Parks" by Brandt Morgan

HISTORY

Cowen and Ravenna Park were formed when melt-off from the Vashon Glacial Ice Sheet formed Lake Russell and cut drainage ravines through new glacial fill. Lake Russell disappeared when the Ice Sheet retreated north of the Straits of Juan de Fuca, but various features remained, including the Green Lake drainage basin, which continued to empty through the Ravenna ravine into Lake Washington. The deeper pockets of the basin became Bitter, Haller and Green Lakes. Many creeks and brooks and springs fed into Green Lake, whose outlet was on the east side of the route of Ravenna Boulevard, in a deepening ravine which became Cowen and Ravenna parks.

DIRECTIONS

I-5 Southbound

• Take the exit- exit number 171- towards N.E. 71ST ST./N.E. 65TH ST
• Merge onto 6TH AVE NE.
• Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto NE 70TH ST.
• Turn RIGHT onto ROOSEVELT WAY NE.
• Turn LEFT onto NE RAVENNA BLVD.
• Turn LEFT.
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto COWEN PL NE.

I-5 Northbound

• Take the RAVENNA BLVD exit- exit number 170- towards NE 65TH ST.
• Turn RIGHT onto NE RAVENNA BLVD.
• Turn LEFT.
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto COWEN PL NE.