Legal settlement clears the way for road through park in Wandermere area

A developer can move forward with plans to build a road through an undeveloped natural area known as Freddy Park north of Spokane.

Developer Al Payne recently agreed to pay $5,806 to settle a lawsuit over the proposed road, which has been tangled in state courts for several years. A group of neighbors who opposed the project was represented by local attorney Steve Eugster.

The park sits behind the Fred Meyer store on North Division Street. When the company donated the 4-acre property to Spokane County in 2001, it stipulated that the land be used “only as a natural, community or regional park.”

Payne wants to build a road through the park to access a proposed housing project in the area. In opposing those plans, neighbors have cited concerns over traffic and property values. Some use the park to walk their dogs.

Karen Kimpel, who has lived south of the park on North Astor Street for 35 years, said the project would ruin the character of the neighborhood.

“The neighborhood did what they could,” she said.