Park Plans Move Ahead In Five Mile

Thu., March 2, 2000

Som Jordan Staff writer

Neighbors in Five Mile Prairie envision a 25-acre wheat field becoming a large park with a built-in skate park and natural area.

The idea is three years in the making and, thanks to the approval of the city’s $15 million park bond in September, a park could be in place by 2001.

For Five Mile neighbors like Jeri Garwood, who don’t have a park nearby, this park will be like an oasis in the desert.

“We moved to this wonderful neighborhood where there are lots of wheat fields and open space but it’s all privately owned,” said Garwood, a mother of four. “I have put six kids in the car and taken them to the nearest elementary school, 15 minutes away, to play soccer.”

Garwood said a series of narrow, curvy roads in the area also makes it dangerous for children and adults to go walking.

Neighbors have been meeting with city staff to set design elements. Screening for contractors for the $1.8 million project should begin in July, according to Jim Gibson, Park Bond projects manager.

Neighbors also have their eyes on about 25 acres of land extending south of the park to be used as a natural area under the Conservation Futures Project. Acquisition for the land has been approved by the park board’s land committee and price negotiations are underway.

The park would be used by the whole community - comparable to Comstock Park.

A small skate park is also in the minds of neighbors as suggested by Spokane police, Garwood said.

The park bond also is funding 27 parks; they’ll get new playground equipment. Half of the city’s parks will be refurnished this summer and the others will be done next summer, Gibson said.

Because the parks are being split alphabetically, 12 of the 13 parks being refitted this year are on the North Side including, Audubon, Clark, Byrne, Chief Garry, Corbin, Emerson, Franklin, Glass, Harmon, Hays and Heath. City parks has budgeted $780,000 for play equipment.

Plans for swimming pool renovations for Shadle, Witter and Cannon pools are scheduled for March. The pools will open on time for the summer season.

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