The Bemiss neighborhood is poised to become one of the next neighborhood councils - but with a difference.
While most neighborhood councils grew out of neighborhood steering committees or a unifying crisis, the Hillyard neighborhood is building around the Bemiss Elementary site council.
"It seems like a natural divider for the area," said Marlene Stewart, one of the neighborhood council organizers. "Neighborhoods come together around school functions."
Molly Myers, director of the city's Neighborhood Services office, said building neighborhood councils around school borders is an option. It's especially sensible in a community like Hillyard - the size of a small town.
"I think it will give us more representation at City Hall and more of a voice in city issues," said Stewart.
The neighborhood is already dealing with several issues. At the top of its list is the dream of developing the cleaned-up Spokane Junkyard at 3322 N. Cook as a city park.
"The Bemiss Elementary School playground and park is the only place our kids have to play now," she said. "The field is usually in use with after-school programs."
Stewart said neighbors also talk about adding a link from the Centennial Trail to Historic Hillyard.
Other neighborhood issues include crime, education and more recreation opportunities for youngsters.
The Bemiss area is one of the lowest income areas of the city.
"We define need by the number of kids eligible for free and reduced lunches. In our school it's more than 70 percent of the kids," said Stewart.
There are also a large percentage of single-parent households and latchkey children.
"These are all issues we'd like to work on as a site council and as a neighborhood council," she said.
Stewart said she can imagine other elementary schools in the area - Cooper, Whitman, Longfellow and Regal - forming their own neighborhood councils.
"We'd like to network with other neighborhoods and resources," she said.
