Park Seeks Friends Riverside State Park

Riverside State Park is looking for a few good friends during a period of critical decisions.

Proposals currently being considered include closing the campground at Bowl and Pitcher and creating a new camping area on Long Lake, where campers would have access to a broader area and safer water access.

A public meeting to explain these and other proposals is set for Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., at West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt St.

“We’re trying to start a Friends of Riverside State Park group that would be an active council of citizens, much like the one that’s been so helpful for Mount Spokane State Park,” said Jack Hartt, Riverside’s park manager.

Getting input from a group of people with enough interest to become informed about park issues is a valuable asset to park managers, Hartt said.

“In the case of the Bowl and Pitcher, the campground is 60 years old and not really designed for what campers are used to. It’s not environmentally friendly to the river, and people can’t really use the river because of dangerous rapids.”

He proposes a group camping site for special activities at Bowl and Pitcher, and he has his eye on putting a larger campground in the area of the former Nine Mile Resort.

Info: 456-3964.