Neighborhood Groups Cite Progress

From community centers to sidewalks, from alleys and COPS shops to economic development, neighborhood groups in northeast Spokane introduced Spokane’s City Council to their goals and accomplishments Monday night.

“I’m getting paving and after 25 years I’m excited,” Hillyard resident Loretta Spence told the council, which was meeting at the Northeast Community Center. The council meets in each community center once a year.

In addition to noting paving and housing, Spence highlighted a recent appliance-disposal effort held in Hillyard, which allowed residents to get rid of old and unused freezers and refrigerators.

The Hillyard business community, now with 33 members, also spoke about its renewed effort to attract small businesses and spruce up the appearance of the area with murals and a railroad museum.

Other neighborhoods had similar stories.

Logan neighborhood steering committee chairwoman Jean Harris said the number of homeowners waiting for loan money from the single-family rehabilitation program had dropped to zero.

“Now we are going to out to recruit people for the program,” she said.

She also highlighted the new playground equipment at Heath Park at Nora and Standard, increased police patrols around the Centennial Trail and Mission Park, and a new partnership between the Logan and Chief Garry Park neighborhoods on some land-use issues.

By the end of the year, Logan community volunteers also plan to open a community policing substation at Hamilton and DeSmet.

Nevada-Lidgerwood COPS shop organizer Deborah Wittwer told city officials the organization has launched dozens of programs, from an alley watch to a grafitti patrol and an effort to take back neighborhood parks from gangs.

Wittwer said the COPS group, which has sustained itself for three years without a building, hopes to have a permit for substation at Wellesley and Lidgerwood soon.

But, she reminded the council, community policing is not about buildings but “programs and people in the neighborhood.”

The Northeast Community Center staff has itself been abuzz with activity lately with some of the energy coming from four VISTA workers. Projects they have helped with include summer programs for teens, an analysis of childcare needs in the neighborhood, a leadership institute, growth management planning and economic development.

After hearing residents, Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty said the area ought to be proud its grass-roots activity.

“It is the embodiment of citizenship involvement,” he said.

, DataTimes