Construction starts on splash pads

Thu., July 17, 2008

A construction bid for five new splash pad water play features was $167,000 less than an engineer estimate, and city officials said they anticipate the work on them could be completed by the end of current summer.

The bid of $833,000 covers work on pads at Audubon, Chief Garry, Coeur d’Alene, Friendship and Thornton Murphy parks under designs by the David Evans & Associates office in Spokane. Five additional splash pads are to be built later under a $42.9 million bond issue approved by voters last year.

Mead

Mead Class of ’98 reunion in August

The Mead High School Class of 1998 10-year reunion will be held Aug. 16 at The Lincoln Center, 1316 N. Lincoln St.

The evening will include music, drinks, dinner and an opportunity to reconnect with classmates.

A raffle will also be held, and proceeds will benefit the Spokane Smiles Organization.

For information and details, visit www.mead1998.myevent.com. To donate items or services to the raffle, contact Katie Murray at katierachel@live.com.

Spokane County

Homelessness survey available

The city of Spokane conducted the 2008 One Day Count on Jan. 24 to verify the number of homeless people in Spokane County.

The results were recently released, totaling 1,765 people. The number included 1,370 people who were living on the streets, in emergency shelters or in transitional housing, and 395 who were staying with family and friends because they didn’t have homes of their own.

The study showed that 48 percent (662) were adult men, 34 percent (470) were adult women, and 16 percent (224) were children. The number is 14 percent lower than in 2006, but it is believed that the discrepancy is because of under-reporting rather than a significant reduction in homelessness.

The count helps determine steps to reduce homelessness in our community, and the information obtained through the count also is used to apply for Homeless Assistance Grants through the federal Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).

The city of Spokane and Spokane County adopted the Washington State Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act in 2005, providing an estimated $12 million a year for homelessness assistance. The act requires the count and a 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness with a goal to reduce homelessness by at least 50 percent in 10 years.

For more information call the city of Spokane Human Services Department at 625-6130.

- Mike Prager – From staff reports

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