Council, parks officials discuss surplus state lands

The Spokane Valley City Council got an update Tuesday on a proposal to auction off state park lands next to the Spokane River – an idea that has provoked a visceral reaction from residents and prompted parks officials to look into bringing the open space into city and county parks systems.

“Staff feels that the open space is critical to current and future recreation activities,” Parks Director Mike Jackson told the council.

A recent newspaper notice listed 100 acres in lots on the north side of the Spokane River as being considered for auction as surplus property. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission would use money from the sale to buy parkland elsewhere.

Last week state parks officials said they had no intention of selling waterfront property, even though parcels listed in the notice have not been divided in a way that would allow only part of them to be sold.

“I think there is some confusions at this point as to what exactly they would sell,” Jackson said.

Among the lots are parcels next to Plantes Ferry Park and part of Spokane Valley’s Sullivan Park below the Western Dance Center that technically belongs to the state.

Jackson said state officials told him they had no plans to auction the Sullivan Park property, but he said the council should be mindful of the situation.

The state can give or sell the surplus land to the city, and the council gave the nod for Jackson and others to look into acquiring park property along the river.

“Nothing would actually happen to the property, as I read it, until June 22 when the (state Parks and Recreation) Commission would vote on it,” Jackson said.

In the meantime, a public meeting on a potential land sale will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at Fire Station 91, 616 W. Hastings Road in north Spokane.