Wish List For Riverfront Park Has It All Ideas Include Science Center, Rides Or Sports Complex And Aquatic Center

Wed., Dec. 9, 1998

By Kathy Mulady kathymu@spokesman.com

Here’s the vision: an aquatics and sports complex, ice arena, science center and children’s museum, a bigger and better IMAX theater, rides, shops and games.

It’s all part of a proposal taking shape for the 25-acre area known as the North Bank, directly north of Riverfront Park between Howard and Washington streets.

The Spokane Public Facilities District and the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department are collaborating on a plan to develop the area as a sports, entertainment and education district for the city.

But still unclear are the potential traffic effects, the future of Riverfront Park if the Pavilion amusements are removed, or even how the estimated $17 million to $27 million project would be financed.

The proposal is in keeping with a recommendation in the still-developing downtown Spokane plan.

The Perron Collaborative, a Portland- and Spokane-based firm developing the plan, presented the first phase to city officials and citizens Tuesday.

Proponents outlined five options for developing the site, about 10 acres of which is owned by the city.

“The site can’t accommodate everything on the list,” said consultant Robert Perron.

Several options for the property were described for the audience. One calls for a modernized IMAX theater, a science center, children’s museum, ice center, park offices, shops, rides and attractions. The estimated price: $17.7 million.

Another option includes a court complex, aquatic center, ice skating center, shops and offices. The estimated price: $27.7 million.

Supporters said the various options have a projected net income from between $200,000 to $257,000 a year, not including retail sales in the shops.

Transportation engineers from CH2M Hill in Boise, consulting with Perron, said the project isn’t expected to draw “a massive amount of traffic flow in any one spot.

“We have to solve some traffic components, but we aren’t starting in a deep hole,” said Ted Reynen of CH2M Hill.

He said the consulting team is trying to avoid becoming involved in the tangle of bridge issues around the river and park.

“Those issues are far beyond the issues we are trying to address in this room,” Reynen said.

Ange Taylor, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, said public surveys indicate demand for more teen programs and aquatics. He said Spokane is also in serious need of more sports courts.

“The downtown location, with the nearby hotels and restaurants, is the most feasible location,” he said.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.