Barbecue at Balfour
Spokane Valley residents are in for a treat Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. when barbecue fare will be sizzling on the grill at Balfour Park to raise funds for the park’s renovations. There will also be a silent auction.
“It’s a fundraising barbecue,” said Theresa Woolery, event organizer. “All money will go to installing a water spray with toys.”
Balfour Park, tucked behind the fire station on Sprague Avenue across from U-City, is a small neighborhood park with big potential, according to Woolery. Beyond its compact borders Woolery sees a park that will benefit young and old with picnic shelters, walking paths, a basketball court, permanent benches and a skateboard park.
In her mind’s eye the vacant land west of the park is covered in lush green grass with a baseball diamond for community ball games. Woolery has met with landowners Jack and Brad Pring, and is hoping “the three of us will work on the park together” in acquiring some of the land for additional park space.
Phase I restored the park to its original size, which included landscaping, a new fence, new irrigation, sod and new playground equipment. A water-spray feature with toys for children is the next step.
“During the hot months, the first place kids can go is on Mission (Avenue). It’s a pool and you have to pay,” Woolery said. “A lot of people around here are low-income and can’t afford for their kids to go to the pool.”
The water sprays are pads that spray water on a rotating cycle. “If you go down to Liberty Park (in Liberty Lake), their water sprays are constantly busy. There’s also one at Chief Garry Park. They’re huge,” said Woolery.
The water spray could cost from $300,000 to $450,000, depending on the final design, according to Mike Jackson, Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation director.
“I know there’s going to be people saying we don’t have the money,” Woolery said. “But I feel this park is the center of the Valley. This needs to be a community park, not just a neighborhood park. We have people from all over the Valley who use this park.”
At a recent City Council meeting, Woolery was given the go-ahead to raise approximately $10,000 needed to begin the project. The barbecue and auction are the first steps in this goal. Woolery is hoping the community will support this project by volunteering at and attending the event to ensure Balfour Park will remain a vital part of Spokane Valley life.
“We are still in need of donations for the silent auction. I’m looking for anything of value, like business gift certificates,” Woolery said. Volunteers to help set up and take down the event also are needed.