City hires local landscape architect to oversee Riverfront Park revamp

Berry Ellison, a local landscape architect, has been hired by the city as the program manager for the Riverfront Park redevelopment project funded by the $64 million park bond approved by voters in 2014.

In his role, Ellison will oversee the team managing the design and construction of the work done at the park during the next five years.

Ellison will make $48 an hour, the same wage made by Juliet Sinisterra, whom Ellison is replacing, parks spokeswoman Monique Cotton said.

Sinisterra was the project manager for the Riverfront Park Master Plan. In a statement, Sinisterra said she was proud of her work with the city, but looked forward to focusing on her business, Sun People Bed & Bath Co.

Ellison will work closely with the Berger Partnership, which was chosen last month by the city to design the park’s public spaces and park grounds. The company had already said it would use Land Expressions, where Ellison was employed for two decades, as its landscape architect.

With Land Expressions, Ellison contributed to the design and construction of Huntington Park and the Tribal Gathering Place next to Spokane City Hall, the Chief Garry Monument and the recently opened Downtown Spokane River Access Point below the Division Street Bridge.

According to the city, Ellison graduated from Utah State University in 1995 with a degree in landscape architecture.