Spokane River through downtown distinguishes city as great place to live
RIVERS -- The Spokane River provides a steady flow of distinction to downtown Spokane, and a healthy splash of fun.
We can raft whitewater rapids within the Spokane city limits, rent stand-up paddleboards and sit-on-top kayaks under the Division Street Bridge and maybe catch a northern pike in Riverfront Park.
Did you know that in addition to the native redbands downstream from Spokane Falls, Avista annually stocks 6,000 sterile rainbow trout between Upriver Dam and Riverfront Parks for the benefit of urban anglers?
Those and many more details are in my story about the benefits of having a clean swimmable and fishable river running through the heart of our city.
Major construction projects from developing Kendall Yards to installing the 2.2-million gallon storm runoff tanks near Monroe Street Bridge are all being designed with walking and biking in mind. Nine new or restored access sites have been added to the river since 2013.
That's a big change from a half century ago when the city had virtually turned its back on the river.