Author: Larry Johnson
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Another Successful Birdwalk Series
We sincerely thank Woody Wheeler, neighbor and bird guide, for leading three bird walks this year. The waitlist was so long for the first two bird walks, we added a third and hosted a total of 38 people! Ravenna and Cowen Parks provide important habitat and a true oasis for birds in the City. Over the…
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Run For Beer and FORC
The 2026 Washington Brewery Running Series is sponsoring another 5K fun run through Ravenna Park on Sunday, June 21, 2026 (Father’s Day). A similar event was sponsored by the Washington Brewery last August and that was fun! This upcoming June 21, 2026 event will start and end at Ravenna Brewing Co, 5408 26th Ave NE,…
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Spring Birdwalk
REGISTRATION IS FULL FOR BOTH BIRDWALKS. Please watch for upcoming reports on the birds observed on these walks and for future FORC events. We our bringing back our popular birdwalks through Ravenna Park. Join our neighbor Woody Wheeler, Birding and Natural History Guide, for two bird walks in May. These two-hour bird walks coincide with peak…
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History of the Town of Ravenna and Its Later Development
Anne O’Neill, staff member at the Merrill Gardens Independent Senior Living Apartments asked if FORC could present a history lecture for their community. https://www.merrillgardens.com/senior-living/wa/seattle/merrill-gardens-at-the-university/ Board member Larry E. Johnson, AIA researched the immediate area that the facility is located in, including University Village, and prepared a slide show covering the time between when the area…
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Another Successful History Walk
Approximately forty people enjoyed the wonderful autumn weather last Saturday, September 20, as they walked through Ravenna Park learning about the long lost features of this urban nature retreat. Francesca Renouard led the main group while Larry Johnson took a few slower walkers on a two-hour tour down the former streetcar tracks and into the…
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How is Ravenna Faring at Tree Equity?
For Ravenna Park History Walking Tour Sign-up, go to previous post. View of Ravenna/Cowen Parks and historic neighborhood Following Seattle City Council’s 2023 passage of a weak tree ordinance, a city-wide loss of 255 acres of trees from 2016-2021, and a pending comprehensive plan that favors trees in the horizontal position, how are we doing…
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Upcoming Walking Tour
Do to several requests we are repeating our history tour of Ravenna Park.
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August 23rd Beer Run
Over 70 runners and walkers participated in the Washington Brewery Running Series 5K run through Ravenna Park last Saturday. A lively group including two FORC board members, Lori Cohen and Jackie Lum, headed out from the Ravenna Brewing Company’s location on NE 55th Street at 11:00 AM and headed east to Ravenna and Cowen Park…
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Support Councilwoman Maritza Rivera’s Amendments to the Seattle Comprehensive Plan
Some of you may be aware that the City Council is considering adoption of a comprehensive plan, called the One Seattle Plan. The Council will meet on September 12 to take further comments. You can still submit comments on this draft plan,and please do this as soon as possible. We urge you to support our…
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Run For Beer
The Washington Brewery Running Series is sponsoring a 5K run through Ravenna Park on Saturday, August 23rd. Their event manager says that ten percent of the profits will be donated to our organization, Friends of Ravenna-Cowen (FORC). Use this link to sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5k-beer-run-x-ravenna-brewing-2025-wa-brewery-running-series-tickets-1300276976439 Use code FORC2025 for $15.00 off the registration
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May 31 Bird Walk and June 7 Tour!
We had fantastic weather for the May 31 walk and a lot of excellent bird sightings. We saw 20 bird species – yet many different than the ones we saw on May 3 with our last group. We saw four types of woodpeckers ( Downy, Hairy, Pileated and Northern Flicker), two raptors (Cooper’s Hawk and Bald Eagle) and many…
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Threatened Gems & Aeroplane Bungalows!
Please join us for a walk through the northeastern portion of the Ravenna-Cowen National Historic District as we explore historic resources and significant trees that would be affected by the City of Seattle’s proposed up-zoning of this area. This walk will be on June 7, 2025, starting at 1:00 PM. We will meet at the…
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May 3rd Bird Walk
Our May 3rd Bird Walk was a success! We had a very attentive group join us for the morning walk. Our guide, Woody Wheeler, identified 20 species of birds, some by sight and some by sound only. Spring migrants that just arrived included Wilson’s Warblers and Swainson’s Thrush. Another highlight of the day was a…
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Peak Migration Bird Walks in Ravenna Park
Join Woody Wheeler, Birding and Natural History Guide, for two bird walks in May. These two-hour bird walks coincide with peak Neotropical bird migration to this area so the park should be alive with bird song and activity! These walks will be on May 3 and May 31 from 8-10 am. We will meet at…