Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Keep the park green

I’m in agreement with Bob Korkus (May 10). When I saw the plan for the new, improved park in The Spokesman-Review, I was dismayed, to say the least. Riverfront Park is the jewel in our downtown. Why do we feel the need to pave it over?

There are products like Grasscrete that can give solid footing for bikes, wheelchairs, etc., and still be green. I’d like to see the old Boeing amphitheater come back as a venue for small events.

At any rate, we have a living, breathing downtown and Riverfront Park is a big part of that. We keep trying to kill it; make it pay for itself. Go to cities that don’t have what we have, Grand Rapids, Michigan, for an example. The city fathers there have spent a lot of time and money trying to bring the downtown area to life after urban renewing it to death.

Let’s not pave paradise and make it a parking lot.

Ruth Gustafson

Spokane

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email
editor@spokesman.com
Fax
(509) 459-3815
Phone
(509) 459-5430

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy