Old rest area part of new county park

Whether heading out on the Centennial Trail, picking up tourist information, putting a kayak in the Spokane River or just in desperate need of a restroom, locals and visitors will find what they need at a new Spokane County park.

The as-yet-unnamed park, just off Interstate 90 west of the Idaho state line, could be up and running by May, said Spokane County Parks Director Doug Chase.

The park will include county-owned Conservation Futures property as well as a former rest area leased from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Commissioners on Tuesday approved leasing that closed rest area from the state. Mark Richard and Todd Mielke were in favor, and Phil Harris was opposed.

It will serve as a Centennial Trail trailhead, offering parking and restrooms.

Harris objected in part to the no-cost lease because of a 180-day state option to take the property back in the event of changes to its interchange there.

Harris said that could leave the county holding the bag on a $56,000 access road it must build on the site.

But the other commissioners said it’s unlikely the state will exercise the clause in the near future because it has no money to make interchange improvements.

The Spokane Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has agreed to open a tourism information center in an existing facility on the site.

The group operated such a center there previously, but closed it several years ago when it lost state funding for the service.

Operating the park will cost the county about $85,000 a year, but Chase said the city of Liberty Lake may contribute.