Old rest stop may become county park

An abandoned Interstate 90 rest area near the Idaho state line may soon be transformed into a new park linked to the Centennial Trail along the Spokane River, and may offer travelers a new tourist information center.

Spokane County commissioners could decide by the end of the year to lease the site from the Washington State Department of Transportation, fix it up, reopen the restrooms and link the site to the Centennial Trail and riverfront parkland the county already owns.

The Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau has agreed to open a tourist information center there if the county leases the property from the state.

A previous tourism center on the site was closed four years ago when the state discontinued funding it, said Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism director Jeanna Hofmeister.

Reopening it would cost the agency about $40,000 a year but would be a good investment into a county gateway, Hofmeister said.

Leasing the property would cost the county nothing, but would be conditional on the Parks and Recreation Department maintaining the site, including the restrooms.

Spokane County purchased 32 acres along the river in 2004. Seven of those acres were paid for with Conservation Futures funds and must remain in their natural state. The other property was purchased with a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant and could feature picnic shelters, a pathway to the Centennial Trail and other facilities.

The Centennial Trail trailhead would be worth it, said Commissioner Todd Mielke.

“Finding access points to the Centennial Trail is by accident,” Mielke said of their current scarcity.

The rest area site would add another 17 acres to the park, which already serves as an informal Centennial Trail connection and as a launch site for non-motorized river users like kayakers and canoeists.

“It would make it one large area rather than having a fence between public space and public space. That’s always driven me crazy out there,” said Spokane County Parks and Recreation Director Doug Chase.

“Once we have an opportunity to enhance this park, I think it will be highly used,” Chase added.

The park could ultimately feature a Spokane River kayak course, but that isn’t included in initial plans.

Building a new access road, installing a lawn and other physical improvements would cost the county about $56,000. Annual maintenance and operation would total about $86,000 for a seven-month season or $105,000 if the park facilities were open year-round.

One lease condition that worries county commissioners is a clause that allows the Department of Transportation to take the property back with 180 days’ notice. That might be necessary if the state proceeds with an as-yet unfunded plan to redo the freeway interchange there.

Commissioners said they don’t want to invest too much money into the park if it could be for naught.

Commissioner Phil Harris said he opposes the project overall because the state should be responsible for maintaining rest stops, and he doesn’t think the park will be used much because of its proximity to the freeway.

Harris opposed the 2004 purchase of the county site.