Community Center Closer To Reality Complex On Former Zoo Land Gets Ok On Second Access Site

The big dream of a small group of Spokane Valley community activists is now closer to reality.

Organizers of a plan to build a community center offering sports and fitness facilities, meeting rooms, educational and social services say construction could begin by the end of the year. The complex - called Mirabeau Point - would be built on the old Walk in the Wild zoo land.

Access to the site has been one of the project’s major stumbling points. Euclid Avenue - a dirt and gravel road - carried people to the zoo on the property’s north side, but would not be adequate for the community center.

A favorable ruling from the Utilities and Transportation Committee last week eliminated that concern. The UTC denied Union Pacific Railroad’s request to close a railroad crossing at the south end of the property.

Maintaining the railroad crossing at Shannon Road gives the complex two access points.

“Now that we can cross the railroad, there’s nothing that can stop it,” Denny Ashlock said.

Ashlock, a Valley insurance executive, heads the Mirabeau Point non-profit organization that includes representatives from the YMCA, Valley Rotary Club, the three Valley school districts and the Community Colleges of Spokane.

Organizers are trying to raise a combination of public and private money to fund the $27 million project, which they estimate will create 200 jobs.

They have talked with local and state legislators and are optimistic that funding will be available for the project. The group hopes government support will entice private donors.

Inland Empire Paper Co. has agreed to donate 70 acres of land formerly occupied by Walk in the Wild for non-profit use. Profit-making attractions have an option to buy additional land from IEP, Ashlock said.

The Mirabeau Point group also has enlisted an architect to sketch preliminary plans for the complex. They include two ice rinks, an outdoor activity area for the disabled, an interpretive nature trail, swimming pools, community, teen and senior centers.

A hotel, RV park and commercial and office space could be future additions.

“It will truly become a major facility in the region,” Ashlock said.

Construction of the ice rinks could begin by the end of the year. Dean Gorman, who is building the rinks, is meeting with Inland Empire Paper Co. representatives Monday to finalize the purchase of land, Ashlock said.

Gorman was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

Mirabeau Point organizers now must raise $1.5 million to fund planning and construction of water and sewer lines and roads around the complex.

Earlier this year, legislators turned down the group’s request for state money to pay some of the infrastructure costs. However, organizers said they plan to try again next year.

“We wanted them aware of the project,” Ashlock said.

If the infrastructure needs can be met within the next two years, the YMCA has said it will build a new Valley facility at the complex.

“We would very much like to be there and be a part of that,” said Steve Jurich, director of the Valley YMCA. The YMCA has not selected an alternate site.

Priorities for the Valley YMCA project include building swimming pools and teen centers, making a marriage of the two projects logical, Jurich said. However, the Valley YMCA project is not contingent upon the Mirabeau Point complex.

“We’re not raising dollars to develop (Mirabeau Point),” Jurich said. “We’re raising money to develop the Y.”

The YMCA recently kicked off its internal fund-raising campaign and plans to begin seeking public donations in the fall. The goal is to raise $5.4 million during the year-long drive, most of which will be spent on the Valley YMCA, Jurich said.

Construction on the YMCA facility is scheduled to begin in the fall of 1997 or spring of 1998.

Valley school districts also could play a major role in the development of a performing arts center on the complex, Ashlock said.

Organizers envision a 1,500-seat auditorium that could house school drama productions and concerts. High school graduation ceremonies also are a possibility.

East Valley Schools Superintendent Chuck Stocker said he and other school officials are meeting Monday with architect Ron Tan to discuss the size and scope of the performing arts center.

Valley school officials won’t direct money from their budgets to help fund Mirabeau Point, Stocker said. Instead, they will work with other agencies and private parties to raise money.

“I really believe in community involvement and I really believe this is great for the entire Valley,” Stocker said.

Educators hope the performing arts center would be surrounded by spaces for adult and senior education. Those would be staffed by the Community Colleges of Spokane, West Valley Superintendent Dave Smith said.

The proposed site is nearly ideal, organizers said. The land is almost centered in the Valley, a 15-minute walk from the Spokane Valley Mall and adjacent to the Centennial Trail, Mirabeau Park and the Spokane River.

“I hope that everything does fall in place because that would be a dynamite location,” Jurich said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map: Proposed Mirabeau Point project

The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Brian Coddington Staff writer Staff writer Marny Lombard contributed to this report.