Program would exchange use of trails, softball fields

Spokane Valley and Spokane County could swap hiking for softball this summer under an exploratory program that allows the city access to Camp Caro in return for use of city ball fields by the county’s growing softball program.

Since the city incorporated in 2003, the county has used some of the city’s fields for games, repaying the city by maintaining them for free. The city recently began hiring a private company for park maintenance, so the City Council approved a pilot cooperative-use program last week that gives the city access to Camp Caro and possibly other facilities as compensation for use of the fields. Otherwise the games would cost the county $25 for the first hour and $15 for each hour after that.

“I’ve been working with (Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation director) Mike Jackson, and we’re really excited about having something in place to allow each other to assist each other,” said Doug Chase, who heads the county’s park department.

He said participation in the summer softball program has increased 5 percent to 9 percent each year for the last few years, with more than 200 teams signing up for adult softball programs.

“We’re really pleased with the success of the programs,” he said.

Keeping usage fees out of the picture should help to keep league fees down and ensure there is space available as the program grows, he said.

“We thought there could be some mutual benefit,” said Carol Carter of the Spokane Valley Parks Department. For the use of its fields, the city will have access to Camp Caro for some of its summer programs.

The city’s summer day camp might use the area two days per week for hiking and “some shade time,” Carter said.

Normally, the county charges $150 per day for adult groups and $50 per day for youth affiliated with nonprofit groups who use Camp Caro facilities, according to documents submitted to the council. The camp is in the Dishman Hills Natural Area at 625 S. Sargent Road.

The county parks director also would have the power to look into city use of other county facilities as part of the deal, Chase said.

He hopes to have a draft agreement to submit to the county commissioners in the coming weeks. The Spokane Valley City Council unanimously approved the program at its May 10 meeting. After this summer, both will review the program to see if it should be continued.