Park Board Votes To Preserve Two Butterflies ‘Legacy From Expo’ Will Cost At Least $15,000 To Repair, Which Will Come Out Of Riverfront’s Budget

Riverfront Park’s wounded butterfly should be on the mend soon.

The Spokane Park Board voted 4-3 Thursday to save the grounded blue relic and its still-flying yellow companion.

Board President Dennis Hession cast the deciding vote, breaking a 3-3 tie.

“They’re a lovely legacy from Expo ‘74,” said Carol Barber, the board’s vice president. “We should preserve what was given to us. They’re such lighthearted, colorful objects.”

Blustery winds about a month ago sent the giant blue butterfly crashing to the ground. Fixing the metal-and-mesh sculpture, as well as repairing its yellow counterpart, will cost at least $15,000.

The Park Board told Riverfront Park operations manager Craig Butz to find the money in the park’s budget.

“We’ve always been good at creative financing,” Butz said.

Ann Schneider voted against saving the butterflies, saying, “I rarely look at them, and when I do, they don’t move.” She suggested spending the money on other things, such as repairing the peeling paint on the Howard Street Bridge.

In the days of Expo ‘74 - the world’s fair that prompted development of Riverfront Park - five brightly colored butterflies marked entrance gates.

Vinyl-coated fabric covered the butterflies’ metal frames. They twirled and fluttered in the wind. At least one fell down during the fair.

The thick fabric later was changed to a mesh material, which made them more stable and less subject to the wind’s whimsy.

On Thursday, The Spokesman-Review logged nearly 140 calls to Cityline, running 5-1 in favor of keeping the butterflies.

“They’re nostalgic. They’re old and in need of repair,” said Judith Gilmore. “That’s the way I feel about my body, and I still like me.”

She added the sculptures are symbolic of the 1970s, when “we were all into butterflies.”

Several people said they have used them as landmarks to meet up with their families, although Gilmore said her mother never would stand too close to one for fear it would blow over.

“We use them to get our bearings,” said Peggy Raymond, who added her grandchildren and great-grandchildren love the butterflies.

She said that if the city can spend money on some of the things it does, it could “afford to keep one butterfly.”

“I think the butterflies are distinctive,” said Laurie Anderson. “They make Riverfront not just any old park.”

Elaine Hammond suggested that Spokane “put its money where its mouth is” and pitch in with donations.

“That would tell you how important it is” to keep them, she said. She added she thinks the money could be better spent on feeding hungry children or building a teen center.

Kathie Stelzner seconded Hammond’s opinion, saying, “Obviously they mean a lot to somebody, but $15,000 worth?”

Lou Brannan said his wife, who died two years ago, would be proud of the Park Board’s decision.

“She loved the fair, particularly those butterflies,” he said. “She’d think that was great.”