Ben Burr Park Proposal Lags In State Priorities

It doesn’t look like the city is going to be able to develop Ben Burr Park in southeast Spokane any time soon.

A competitive proposal to use state grant money for a new Ben Burr Park is trailing other proposals from around the state.

For five years now, the city has been seeking up to $300,000 in state money to help pay for the estimated $640,000 cost of building the park.

Earlier this month, Parks Director Ange Taylor and assistant Paul Crutchfield appeared before a state committee that rated 76 park projects seeking grant money.

Ben Burr ranked 51st out of the 76 projects.

One of the committee members was a Spokane parks manager.

In a letter to several residents interested in construction of the park, Crutchfield said the ranking puts Ben Burr Park too low to receive any money during the current budget year, which ends next June.

Ben Burr has been the city’s No. 1 priority for park development.

Last year, it ranked 30th out of 61 projects.

Crutchfield said the park projects that scored higher appeared to be worthy proposals as well.

City parks officials have said they don’t have enough money in the city’s park reserve account to justify spending the full amount for development.

They have sought state grant money when there is a chance the city could receive up to 50 percent funding.

The 8.5-acre site at 44th and Havana was purchased in the early 1990s. The city wants to build a playground, shelter, basketball court, restroom and pathways. Also, play equipment would be installed.

The fast-growing area of southeast Spokane doesn’t have a neighborhood park.

The nearest parks are Thornton Murphy at 27th and Ray and the South Side Sports Complex at 46th and Regal.

, DataTimes