Funding Comes Together For First Phase of Mirror Pond Renovation | News

Renovation of Manito Park’s Mirror Pond is expected to begin next spring when crews can install underground electrical equipment to improve the pond’s water circulation.

The Friends of Manito is providing the funding for the first phase of the project. $50,000 has been set aside to install equipment to recirculate the water in place.

“It’s going to be underground so it doesn’t destroy the ascetics of the area,” Lee McLeron shared. She’s the fundraising chair for the Mirror Pond Renovation. Her top concern is keeping the location soothing and pleasing.

The pond uses city water which kills microbes that eat the algae that make the water muddy. The new equipment would put oxygen back in the water -- feeding the microbes so they can do their job.

“The first part is getting the equipment in the vault so we can save the water,” McLeron said. She continued, “We’ve been planning this for a year and we’re ready to go as soon as the weather permits in the spring.”

Future phases of the renovation will include installing a user-friendly walkway around the 1.9-acre pond. McLeron says it will include aquatic landscaping and walkway benches. They also plan on installing two water features including a waterfall to help increase water circulation.

A demonstration of their water purification system will be featured at the Manito Meeting Room, located east of the Conservatory, on Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. The demonstration is expected to last about 30 minutes.

The Friends of Manito are always looking for more financial help with the renovation. Donations can be deposited at any area U.S. Bank to the Mirror Pond Account, Friends of Manito.

Duck Pond: Some Spokane residents refer to the Mirror Pond as the Duck Pond. They are one and the same.