With Plese Flats You Get Take-Out

Sun., June 9, 1996

Whitewater canoeists, kayakers and rafters have a new, improved take-out on the Spokane River in Riverside State Park.

Last week, Washington Water Power completed a $140,000 development of the Plese Flats access site downstream from the Bowl and Pitcher. Previously, the site had been abused by garbage dumpers, off-road vehicles and illegal camping.

WWP has paved access roads, installed vandal-resistant restrooms and barricaded the area to prevent four-wheel-driver vehicles from damaging the shoreline and native vegetation restoration.

The Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club, using equipment donations and funds raised by the Spokane River Canoe Classic, has made less ambitious but equally important improvements to other access sites along the river.

“We lined boulders and installed gates at the Harvard Road and Sullivan Road access sites to prevent vehicles from driving all over the shorelines,” said club spokesman Tom Smith.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of Plese Flats area

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