Combining Efforts Can Make It Happen

Sat., May 9, 1998

By Vince Grippi vincegrippi55@yahoo.com

Drive along Upriver Drive in the Spokane Valley one of these days. East of Plante’s Ferry Park, look south. You’ll be looking at a success story.

It may resemble an empty field in the early stages of a construction project, but it’s more, much more.

It’s an example of what our area needs if it’s going to solve a growing problem: the lack of recreational sports space for children.

There are more kids than ever playing youth sports. But there aren’t enough fields or gymnasiums to accommodate everyone.

This has led to scheduling conflicts and odd practice hours. The shortage of facilities is especially acute in the burgeoning cities of North Idaho, but it’s a problem shared throughout the region.

Building recreational facilities for kids isn’t the top priority for municipalities strapped for enough cash to deal with other growth-related problems. And rightfully so.

That’s where the earth-moving near Plante’s Ferry comes in.

Sprouting in that empty field is an example of a public (Spokane County) and private (Spokane Valley Junior Soccer Association) partnership that’s working. Using a donation of land from the county and funds raised by the soccer group, soccer and softball players in 1999 will be running where only field mice ran before.

More facilities ought to be built in this way. Government and schools can’t do it alone anymore. Government must pave the way, supply some funds or land, including undeveloped park land. Private sources including businesses, community-minded individuals and foundations need to supply a majority of the funds; and volunteers should do the work. That’s why groups like Post Falls’ Youth First is so important.

But these are only the first steps. In addition, youth organizations must stop their turf wars. Volleyball and basketball organizations need to work together to build gym space, instead of competing for it; soccer, baseball and softball groups must do the same to increase field availability. A multi-purpose facility may not be a perfect solution for each individual sport, but it makes economic sense.

The last piece of the puzzle should be filled by developers. The best time to set land aside is when a development is being planned. Developers could add to a housing tract’s marketability if they include a field for the soccer moms and baseball dads.

Maybe, just maybe, we can soon see success stories sprouting all over the Inland Northwest.

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