Survey Shows Residents Want Rides In Park

A survey shows the Tilt-oWhirl and the Ferris wheel could be gaining job security.

Spokane wants amusement rides in Riverfront Park.

“The one thing that stood out in my mind is that half of everyone we talked to said the park should have rides,” said Bill Robinson, president of Robinson Research, which conducted a survey for the Parks Department.

“They specifically said the rides give kids something to do, and we should keep them.”

The Park Board commissioned the $6,000 survey when several residents questioned the rides’ future if the Pacific Science Center moved into the Pavilion.

Sixty-five percent of the 400 people polled last month said they wanted rides in the park. Of those, 68 percent said the rides should be there “for children to enjoy.”

“There’s still the issue for the Park Board about whether the rides are important,” said Parks Director Frank McCoy. “I feel like this is telling us people are interested in the rides.”

More than two-thirds of those surveyed - 70 percent - favored moving the rides to the northeast corner of the park, between the Flour Mill and Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park. Most people wanted more rides, and didn’t want to lose the ones they had.

Pavilion rides weren’t the park’s most popular attractions, but they did make the list of the top four. The IMAX theater, the Carrousel, and walking or jogging beat the rides for favored activities.

Feeding ducks is another popular activity.