Kla Ha Ya Park, Snohomish, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Kla Ha Ya Park is a small public park on First Street in the historic downtown of Snohomish, Washington. It sits on a site shaped by the Snohomish River's floods, and it is a good place to learn how the river has influenced the town. It is a short stop, best enjoyed as part of a walk through the old town.

The story behind it

Snohomish was built beside a river that regularly spills over its banks, and the valley around town has flooded many times. According to the route creators, the highest flood on record came at Thanksgiving 1990, when the river reached about 33.5 feet. The December 1975 flood was also severe, leaving the valley under water for days.

The park's own story is tied to that flooding. A Poier Chevrolet building once stood here, but floodwater undermined its brick foundation and the structure collapsed, killing a worker in the basement. The brick storefront stayed standing, boarded up, until the 1960s, when the city cleared the site and made way for the park.

What to look for

• Notice the open space itself and picture a car dealership with a brick storefront standing where the park is now.
• Look at how the park fits into the First Street blocks around it, a reminder that downtown Snohomish grew up in the river's reach.
• Watch for the older brick buildings nearby, which show the kind of construction that once lined this street.
• Think about the river's closeness to town and how a high-water year could affect these streets.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 10 to 15 minutes for the park on its own, longer if you combine it with a wander through the surrounding streets.
• It is an open public park, so there is no building to enter, and you can stop by at any time of day that suits you.
• Daylight is best, when you can read the details of the nearby historic buildings.
• First Street and the streets around it are known for antique shops and cafes, so plan a coffee or browsing stop in the same visit.

See it on a quest

The park is one stop on Secrets of Snohomish: An Interactive History Game, a self-guided walk through the town's past. You reach the park on foot as part of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join. One ticket covers the whole group.