Two Valley Parks Projects Ranked Highly For State Funds

Thu., Sept. 12, 1996

Marny Lombard Staff Writer

Two parks in the Spokane Valley have a good shot at getting $500,000 from the state.

Pavilion Park at Liberty Lake and the proposed soccer complex at Plante’s Ferry Park both are ranked in the top 10 statewide for funding from the Washington Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, said Wyn Birkenthal, director of parks and recreation for Spokane County.

Pavilion Park is up for $200,000, which would go toward volleyball courts, tennis courts, a spray pool and landscaping. The Pavilion Park application was ranked fifth in the state.

The soccer complex at Plante’s Ferry was ranked seventh and would receive $300,000 for six soccer fields, two softball fields, a playground, picnic area and extensive landscaping.

“It’s looking really good,” Birkenthal said.

But this is just one of several hoops to jump through before any money is awarded. The rankings are preliminary and could be changed when the committee meets later this month. Also, the grants depend on local matching amounts being raised.

A final decision on the state money could come next spring.

Spokane County is the only jurisdiction in the state to have two projects listed in the top 10. Birkenthal said he believed community support for the two parks is the reason these projects did so well.

, DataTimes

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