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Walk one block north from University Avenue on Ramona Street and you reach a pocket of shade on Lytton Avenue. Oaks and redwoods rise over paths, lawn and benches. Office workers eat lunch here, seniors from the center next door stop to rest and people cut through on their way to the train. This is Cogswell Plaza, one of the few green spaces in the downtown core.
It is easy to walk past without knowing its story. The plaza is named for Elinor Cogswell, who ran the Palo Alto Times for 16 years and argued in print that this patch of grass should stay public. This page covers who she was, how the plaza became a park, the city's efforts to improve it and what you will find there today. For the better-known square two blocks away, see our Lytton Plaza guide.
Who was Elinor Cogswell?
Elinor V. Cogswell was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, in 1892. She earned a bachelor's degree in English at Stanford in 1916 and a master's degree in 1917. After a year teaching with her mother on Maui, she walked into the Palo Alto Times looking for work.
She joined the paper in 1918, when it had a staff of three. She was soon covering city affairs. By the early 1930s she held the title "Editor of Woman's Interests." In 1938 she became chief editor, succeeding Dallas Wood. The Palo Alto Historical Association says she was the only woman in California with that title at the time. She led the Times for 16 years, through the city's fastest growth, then stepped down in 1954 to write editorials full time in a column called "EVC at Bat." She retired in 1959 after about four decades at the paper and died in 1983.
Her editorials pushed for many things that shaped the town:
- Racial tolerance and free speech during the McCarthy era.
- Housing for returning veterans and for low-income families in poor conditions.
- Better street lighting and public restrooms downtown.
- Underpasses at California Avenue and other dangerous rail crossings.
- Care for the city's historical collection and support for the Palo Alto Historical Association.
- Saving the downtown plot of grass that now carries her name.
Our freeway history tells how the Times led the campaign for a safer Bayshore Highway in the same era. The history of Palo Alto's newspapers covers the Times from 1893 until it merged in 1979. Our page on women in Palo Alto history covers other local pioneers of her generation.
From parking lot candidate to parkland
Downtown Palo Alto has long been hungry for parking. The Womanhood Project, a Santa Clara County public art and history project, says Cogswell fought to keep this site from becoming a parking lot so it could remain a public space.
The city made that permanent in law. An exhibit in the Palo Alto Municipal Code shows that Ordinance No. 2252, enacted on September 13, 1965, reserved Cogswell Plaza for park purposes. The same code records an extension of about 0.103 acre along the Bryant Street side. The land sits in Block 13 of Mill's Subdivision of the Town of University Park, a map recorded in February 1889, which is a reminder that downtown was platted before Palo Alto was even incorporated.
Parkland status matters in Palo Alto. The city requires a public vote before dedicated parkland can be put to other uses, the same rule that has protected the Baylands. It is the main reason a corner this valuable is still under trees rather than buildings.
The 2011 redesign plan
By the early 2010s the plaza had problems. Palo Alto Online reported in December 2011 that it saw little use despite its location. A landscape architect working for the city described "unsavory activities" there, often involving drugs and alcohol. Dense shrubs blocked sightlines and broken concrete made the paths a trip hazard.
City staff brought a plan to the Parks and Recreation Commission with a budget of about $150,000. It called for:
- Removing old shrubs and hedges and planting low ground cover to open up views.
- Replacing the turf at the north end with a circular seating area with game tables.
- Repairing the broken concrete paths.
- Adding new trash cans and better lighting.
Commissioners generally praised it and Avenidas, the senior center next door, supported the goal of drawing more daytime visitors. The same report noted that the plaza once hosted the city's Brown Bag Concert series. We could not confirm from city sources exactly which parts of the plan were built or when, so look for yourself when you visit.
The plaza today
The city lists the site as Cogswell Park among its neighborhood parks, though its own park page carries almost no detail. Maps and many residents still call it Cogswell Plaza. The Palo Alto Historical Association uses the fuller name Elinor Cogswell Plaza.
Expect a small, shady space rather than a destination park. There is no playground, no restroom and no ticket. The trees are the draw: on a hot afternoon this is one of the coolest spots downtown. Lunch hour on weekdays is the liveliest time. Like other downtown spaces, it has had complaints about drug use and loitering over the years, so evenings can feel quiet and less comfortable. City parks close from 10:30 p.m. until sunrise.
Good to know
- The nearest public restrooms are in cafes and restaurants on University Avenue or in public buildings during opening hours.
- Paths are concrete. Check surfaces as you go, since the city noted broken sections in 2011.
- Large gatherings in city parks need a permit. Contact the city before planning an event.
- Feeding birds and other wildlife is banned in all city parks.
Getting there and parking
The plaza runs along Lytton Avenue between Ramona and Bryant streets, one block north of University Avenue. From the Palo Alto Caltrain station it is about a 10 minute walk: head up University Avenue, turn left on Ramona and walk a block to Lytton.
Downtown parking is mostly time-limited, with free short-term spaces on many streets and in city lots and garages. Our guide to downtown parking garages covers the options. Bryant Street, one of the city's main bike routes, runs past the plaza.
What is nearby
Next door is the Avenidas senior center at 450 Bryant Street, in Birge Clark's 1927 former fire and police station. Our fire department history tells that building's story and our guide for older adults covers what Avenidas offers. A short walk south brings you to the Pacific Art League galleries on Ramona Street and the Downtown Library on Forest Avenue. For coffee to bring to a bench, see our coffee guide. Our Downtown North guide covers the quiet residential streets just beyond Lytton.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Cogswell Plaza?
Cogswell Plaza is on Lytton Avenue between Ramona and Bryant streets in downtown Palo Alto, one block north of University Avenue. The Avenidas senior center at 450 Bryant Street is next door. It is about a 10 minute walk from the Palo Alto Caltrain station.
Who is Cogswell Plaza named after?
It honors Elinor V. Cogswell (1892 to 1983), who joined the Palo Alto Times in 1918 and was its chief editor from 1938 to 1954. Local historians say she was then the only woman in California with that title. She fought to keep this plot of grass from becoming a parking lot.
Is Cogswell Plaza the same as Cogswell Park?
Yes. The City of Palo Alto lists it as Cogswell Park among its neighborhood parks, while maps and older city documents call it Cogswell Plaza. The Palo Alto Historical Association calls it Elinor Cogswell Plaza.
Is Cogswell Plaza a good place to eat lunch?
It can be. The plaza has shade from oaks and redwoods along with paved paths. Dozens of restaurants are within a few blocks. Busy weekday lunch hours bring the most people, which is when the space feels most comfortable.
When did Cogswell Plaza become a park?
A city ordinance passed on September 13, 1965, reserved the site for park purposes. The city's code also records a small extension of about a tenth of an acre along Bryant Street.