New sidewalk will link to Appleway Trail

Spokane Valley residents along Blake Road between Eighth Avenue and Appleway Trail can look forward to a new sidewalk on the east side of the road.

The City Council agreed to spend approximately $355,000 on that stretch at its meeting Tuesday evening.

Most of the funding comes from Spokane Valley’s share of the federal Community Development Block grant funding allocated to Spokane County. Spokane Valley is anticipating to get $270,000 of the county’s $1.3 million.

Economic development director Mike Basinger said that CDBG funds must go to projects in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods and score a high priority in the county’s CDBG program.

“Connecting streets to trails is a high priority,” Basinger said.

The cost of the sidewalk project can be adjusted to fit the CDBG grant if funding for the difference can’t be found.

“We can adjust the project to meet just what’s set aside,” Basinger said.