Center May Cut Losses City Calculations Show Addition Of Science Center Would Slow Losses From Riverfront Park

Over 10 years, moving the Pacific Science Center into Spokane’s Riverfront Park Pavilion could save taxpayers nearly $2.5 million.

That’s the word from the city Parks Department, which spent several weeks calculating numbers demanded by critics of the science center proposal.

“This tells me we’d be several hundreds of thousands of dollars to the good by having the science center in the park (instead of) continuing business as usual,” said Parks Director Frank McCoy.

Park Board members for years have complained that Riverfront Park loses more and more money annually.

Last year, expenses outpaced revenues by more than 2 to 1, resulting in a $1.05 million deficit, according to department accountant Ed Bowers.

Expenses include maintenance, personnel and grounds keeping.

If the park is left alone, taxpayers can expect to spend between $900,000 and $1.5 million each year for the next 10 years to keep Riverfront in business.

With the science center in the Pavilion, that amount falls to $775,000 to $1.01 million. Those estimates include the $250,000 the Parks Department plans to pay the center each year for the first five years.

Bowers said calculating the numbers took exceptionally long because the Parks Department doesn’t separate Pavilion costs and profits from the rest of the park, or one ride’s profits from another’s.

Because of that, resident Jonathan Swanstrom - a critic of the proposal - is skeptical of the numbers.

“When you unbundle the attractions, it’s difficult to tell which one’s making money and which one’s not,” Swanstrom said.

The recently released figures don’t include the cost of relocating the rides if the science center goes into the Pavilion.

The Parks Department has set aside $29,000 for a consultant to study that cost, but doesn’t want to hire one until the lease is approved and the science center has secured enough donations.

If the rides are relocated, they should “break even” and not change the finance report, McCoy said.

“Even making payments to the science center, it would be better to have a private operator in the Pavilion than operate it ourselves,” McCoy said. “But those numbers don’t tell you whether it’s better for the public.

“That’s for the council and the Park Board to decide.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with story: What’s next A special hearing on the contract leasing Riverfront Park’s Pavilion to the Pacific Science Center takes place tonight at 6 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall, W808 Spokane Falls Blvd.