Cowley Park
Interactive Park Map
About the Location
Historical Significance
Established as a public park in 1915, the site has historical significance dating back to the earliest European American settlement of Spokane. The park is named after Reverend Henry T. Cowley, who arrived in the area with his family in 1874.
Cowley built the city's first schoolhouse on this land, which later became the park. In 1973, Cowley Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making it Spokane's first listing on the register.
Park Features
Cowley Park is a small 2.2-acre public park located at the intersection of 6th Avenue and Division Street in the Cliff/Cannon neighborhood of Spokane, Washington. The park features a gently rolling landscape with grassy areas and mature trees, including three grand trees - a maple, an ash, and a sycamore - planted by the Cowleys themselves.
A spring-fed stream flows through the park, though it is now mostly channeled underground. The park offers basic recreational amenities and serves as a pleasant spot for relaxation, picnicking, and enjoying nature within the urban environment.
Location and Purpose
The park is nestled within the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center campus, providing a welcome green space for patients, visitors, and local residents. Its location makes it a valuable outdoor retreat in an otherwise densely developed area.
It also stands as a tangible link to Spokane's early history, preserving the memory of one of the city's founding families and its first educational efforts.
