River plan calls for trails, park

The Spokane River from the lower Spokane Falls to High Bridge Park would become a magnet for a variety of recreation uses under a master plan unveiled Wednesday night.

“I like the concept of the whole park,” said Jesse Hansen, of Spokane.

The Great Gorge Strategic Master Plan calls for creation of trails, overlooks, a whitewater park and habitat restoration through 15 specific projects.

A Centennial Trail footbridge over the river at High Bridge Park was recently completed and is open for joggers and other users. It provides a new recreation crossing and is a focal point for a number of improvements envisioned in the plan, including a play area for whitewater enthusiasts.

The plan takes advantage of existing public amenities upstream as well. A key project involves construction of two trails beneath the southern arches of the Monroe Street Bridge, providing a new pedestrian connection between downtown and the Peaceful Valley section of the river. One trail would descend from Main Avenue while another trail would extend from Huntington Park next to the lower falls.

Signe Swenson, of Peaceful Valley, said some of her neighbors may oppose the improvements because they don’t want crowds descending on the quiet valley. “I think it’s great,” she said, “but I don’t think people understand it.”

She recommended that proponents meet with Peaceful Valley residents to explain their ideas.

“This is still very much a work in progress,” said Daniel Iacofano, a park design consultant who was hired to prepare the master plan through a $250,000 state economic development grant.

Work on the concepts dates back three years, although the impetus to create the park arose from grass-roots environmental opposition to a Lincoln Street bridge over the Spokane Falls.

Friends of the Falls was formed in 1997 to fight construction of the bridge connecting the two ends of Lincoln Street above the river. The bridge project was eventually abandoned by the city in the face of the opposition.

After beating back the bridge proposal, Friends members turned their attention to creation of a gorge park, in part to fulfill a longstanding recommendation for a gorge park in an early-1900s master plan written by Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architects of Brookline, Mass.

John Moyer, a former state senator and a leading member of the Friends organization, said the proposed projects within the gorge area would be developed through a partnership between government, business, various organizations and neighborhoods. He said the state could establish a trust fund for managing finances. “We are pretty much on the way,” he said.

The public was asked Wednesday night to comment on the master plan, and citizens’ ideas will be incorporated into a final document.

Linda Wolcott, who lives along the river near the proposed park, said in an interview she believes the improvements would be a great addition to Spokane. Even though the river is relatively quiet near her home, Wolcott said she would welcome more visitors to her neighborhood.

“I think the river hasn’t been paid attention to for a very long time,” she said.

Projects include construction of a boulevard along the north bank on the Ohio Avenue right of way; creation of an overlook area at an abandoned railroad bridge abutment above the newly constructed Sandifur Bridge for the Centennial Trail; and development of an access “gateway” near the intersection of West Clarke and West Riverside avenues.

Other projects involve creation of as many as two kayak “whitewater” park areas, as well as a launch area; development of a tribal cultural center at any of three possible sites; encouraging a commercial gateway at Sunset Boulevard and Government Way; improvements to Avista Corp.’s Huntington Park; restoration of grasses, trees and shrubbery in various locations; and undertaking a new master plan for the city’s High Bridge Park.

Mike Edwards, president of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, said the master plan will be finalized in December through a committee of about 30 active participants in the planning process. The Friends group will then take the plan to City Hall and ask officials to incorporate its provisions into the city comprehensive land-use plan, as well as goals for park future development.