Becky Kramer/Spokesman-Review
Riverstone Park during construction May 22.

Ohmigosh ... I spent the last hour checking out the new Riverstone and Johnson Mill River Parks along the Spokane River. Niiiiice. Particularly Riverstone. Which features a landscaped greenbelt and walking paths around a pond with a large fountain and other water features. You get to it by driving around the Riverstone Cinemas parking lot and taking the first left. It has metal benches at viewpoints on the pathways, an amphitheater capable of seating 100, a children's play area, a public art piece of a woman in a bonnet and dress riding an old-fashioned bicycle with two dogs running alongside, a picnic gazebo, and public restrooms. Prediction: The amphitheater will become a favorite wedding and concert spot. From the park, you can see the incredible construction taking place all around. Developer John Stone deserves major kudos for constructing a project as well as they can be. As far as the Johnson Mill River Park goes ... it's basically a landscaped strip with a walking path along the river that dead ends against a private park. It has a small swim area and a boat tie-up, plus two picnic tables under a gazebo. It's sort of a short river version of the eastern end of the Centennial Trail -- another nice edition to the city parks system.

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