PARKS -- Work to erase more than a mile of road illegally bulldozed into the South Hill bluffs city parklands in mid-April has concluded today, according to the City Parks Department and Avista.

On Monday, a guided wildflower hike is planned to sooth user angst about the issue.

Land Expressions was contracted to regrade, hydroseed and replant trees and shrubs to begin healing the wound into the natural area. The road was cleared and built on the slope above Hangman Creek without proper permits in order to facilitate building a par-3 golf course and for access to replace powerline poles.

According to a joint update, Avista will continue to monitor the area weekly through September, and at that time will replace the trees and shrubs that do not survive the summer.  The City Parks and Recreation Department will begin monitoring the area in 2018 for five years as outlined in the monitoring plan.

"As of today, approximately one mile of the road cut has been restored and replanted with trees and shrubs, and one-half mile of the existing two-track road has been reseeded," the update says.  "All impacts of the restoration were confined to the original road cut."

The city continues to ask users of the bluff trails to be respectful of the private property portion of the user-made trail system and to stay off the restored area by using only the trail system.

Meanwhile:

Rediscover why we value the Bluffs on a wildflower walk with Spokane author, naturalist and historian Jack Nisbet.

•  MONDAY JUNE 12 AT 6:00 PM
• MEET AT THE PARKING AREA ALONG HIGH DRIVE AT 37TH AVENUE
• This event is free and open to the public, organized by Friends of the Bluff.