Riverfront plans all talk

The June 9 article on the state of the Riverfront Park IMAX was another in a long line of articles going back 30 years about plans for Riverfront Park. Yet nothing gets done. Talk, talk, talk is all that happens.

In the 1980s, there were articles for a People Mover and an amusement park by the Pavilion. Later, a 300-foot observation tower was planned. Then a contract with Disney. And then, in 1999, we voted to buy the North Bank for “revenue-generating” attractions.

At that time, we were conned by the Parks Department, which told the public that without revenue-generating attractions, there wasn’t enough money to maintain Riverfront. That land still sits empty after 14 years. Since then there have been articles about the Pavilion crumbling and the IMAX needing upgrades or closure, even though the other downtown IMAX is one-half the screen size, and Chinese-owned.

Next year is the 40th anniversary of Expo. If done right, it could be a big moneymaker, with celebrations and maybe a mini Expo attracting visitors. Open the revamped Riverfront Park on July 4, 2014, with a refurbished Pavilion and new roof; the North Bank with attractions like those we voted for, a new digital IMAX, with lower prices; and attractions to bring the tourists in.

Stop talking and start doing.

Richard Trerise

Spokane