Manito Park Plans City Seeks Comment On Proposals To Change Traffic Flow, Parking

People living around Manito Park may have as much at stake as anyone when it comes to proposed changes in traffic and parking near the duck pond.

The Spokane Park Board is seeking recommendations from the city’s neighborhoods about a project to change the layout for vehicles.

Tonight, the Manito Neighborhood Council meets to talk about the various options under consideration.

The neighborhood council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Wilson School.

“I am hoping we can get a good turnout,” said Bill Grimes of the neighborhood council.

Last year, voters approved a $15 million park bond issue that includes money for changes to the layout of pavement in lower Manito Park.

All three proposals would close off Tekoa as a through street to 18th Avenue, which is on the north side of the pond. A landscaped traffic circle would be installed in place of the through street.

The Grand Boulevard entrance also would be redesigned.

Most of the concern over the plan has centered on the addition of a new parking lot in the grassy field between the duck pond and Grand.

An original proposal called for 85 parking spaces for cars, plus eight bus slots.

Neighborhood opposition to the parking plan caused officials to scale back the size of the lot in each of three alternative layouts.

The options range from 48 to 76 car slots. Also, the proposals call for fewer bus slots, or none.

Parks officials said a well-designed parking area will increase pedestrian safety.

That is particularly important since Manito Park’s gardens have become a top tourist draw and a major attraction to residents throughout the region, they said..

Even with a new parking lot, the amount of green space in the duck pond area will actually be increased since land currently used for streets can be returned to lawn.

Neighborhood councils are being asked to select one of the alternatives. Those alternatives will be reviewed at tonight’s neighborhood council meeting.

Jim Gibson, construction manager for the bond issue, said he had received recommendations from three of the city’s neighborhood councils as of last week. Many of the councils have been taking a break during the summer.

Parks officials are hoping to receive the recommendations by next month so the Park Board can decide which alternative to build.

Construction is expected to begin as soon as the winter breaks early next year.

This sidebar appeared with the story: COMING UP Meeting tonight

The Manito Neighborhood Council meets at 7 p.m. tonight at Wilson School, 911 W. 25th, to discuss traffic and parking proposals for Manito Park.