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Planning the future of Riverfront Park

Planning the future of Riverfront Park

The history of Spokane seems to revolve around its central landmark, Riverfront Park. The acreage started as a rail yard, trains shuffling in and out with the clock tower always marking the time.

The landscape transformed into the foundation for Expo ‘74, building amenities that residents still use today. Now it’s time to talk about the next set of changes. It won’t happen today, but down the road, the conversations we have now are what will shape the park’s future.

It’s the same rigorous planning that brought the residents of Spokane the Rotary Fountain entrance and the rebuilt gondola swinging over the waterfalls of the Spokane River.

From an extension of the Sky Ride spanning over the park, to an art walk that could extend to Kendall Yards, the City of Spokane’s park and recreation planning department is returning to their on-going master plan to figure out what to do next.

The last time the city took a look at their Master Plan was in 2000. On the plate during that conversation was a project-based plan to explore building a science center and a new IMAX theatre.

City council to reevaluate noise ordinance

If you think it's a little noisy in your neighborhood, you may not be the only one. Spokane City Council is going to review its noise ordinance again this coming Monday, May 14 at 6 p.m.

In the last year, a task force discussed possible changes to the noise ordinance. It was last changed in early 2010 to make the ordinance more legally defensible and to accept input from a broader base of citizens and businesses.

A first reading of the proposed ordinance was held earlier this year, but the final reading and vote was postponed.  A vote is now planned for Monday according to the City.

If adopted, the ordinance would replace the current ordinance.

New South Hill trail connection to Dishman Hills natural area

New South Hill trail connection to Dishman Hills natural area

Spokane County is trying to make it a little easier for you to get out and get some exercise! The county is forming a new trailhead connecting the South Hill to the Dishman Hills Natural Area this month.

The trailhead is located on the 3700 block of South Thierman Road in the Glenrose area, two miles east of Ferris High School. The county used Conservation Futures Funding to buy the 269-acre plot of land on April 12.

According to Jeff Lambert, Vice President of the Dishman Hills Natural Area Association, the new Conservation Area lies in the path of the Dream Trail, which will take the  "Connecting People to Nature" project and connect it to the Iller Creek Conservation Area on the south end of the Dishman Hills Natural Area.

Connecting the two conservation areas would result in a wildlife and recreation corridor of more than six miles, with a network of recreation trails of many miles.

The Dishman Hills Natural Area Association is holding a dinner at the Moran Prairie Grange to celebrate the new trailhead on May 12. The celebration is a member-only event, but you can join for a special $10 dues through May 12 via www.DHNAA.org.

Cliff Park staircase renovation moving along

Cliff Park staircase renovation moving along

We just got off the phone with Taylor Bressler, the city’s project manager for Parks and Recreation. He says the Cliff Park renovation project is only a couple days in, but it’s moving quite along.

Yesterday they poured a foundation and today they put in a wall. It should take about two more weeks until completion. The project costs $61,000.

Something interesting to note from last night’s neighborhood meeting at Comstock, a visiting representative from Cannon Hill, says the fire pit at the top of Cliff Park used to be a flagpole with little metal binocular sights that you could view Mt. Spokane.

You’ve got some time to plan for this, but on June 14th, the Cannon Hill neighborhood will be enjoying snacks at the top of Cliff Park while watching the sunset. The event, called “A Funny Thing at Cliff Park” celebrates the renovation.

Construction planned for aging Cliff Park staircase

Construction planned for aging Cliff Park staircase

It’s looking to be the wettest March ever on Spokane’s record. That’s affecting some construction at Cliff Park Spokane Parks & Recreation hopes to begin as soon as the rain clears up.

We stopped by the park Wednesday afternoon just after a cloud of rain passed over. A decrepit stone staircase leading up the tower of volcanic basalt was wet with rain water, pooling in the depressed chunks of decay.

The staircase is over one hundred years old and it's in need of repair. City project manager Taylor Bressler says the last time it saw improvements was about 25-years-ago when a group of Eagle Scouts did some work on it.

The project has been a long time coming Bressler said. The staircase is chipped and busted up in some places and the construction will resurface the staircase and add in handrails, a much needed safety feature.

There used to be elaborate stonework near the observation point, but Bressler says most of that is gone.

Invent Your Own Pasta

Invent Your Own Pasta

So there I was waiting for my creation from Huckleberries juice bar - we're talking wheatgrass, apples, ginger and the likes - when I catch the Made-to-Order Pasta Bar out of the corner of my eye.

I weighed my options: Wheatgrass? Pasta?

The choice was obvious but I had already made my decision. That didn't stop me from sauntering over with my camera phone to snap the Huckleberries pasta chef in action.

Those on the South Hill probably already know about the Made-to-Order Past Bar, but for those of us that live elsewhere, myself included, this was a new discovery for me... and gave me a reason to visit the south hill more often.

It's $8.99 per dish and boasts an array of delicious toppings. I'd probably do cheese, cheese and more cheese, but the variety is there if you're more adventurous than me.

I smell a date night on the horizon, too, because the bar is only open on Friday and Saturday nights from 1pm-9pm.

Just call me cupid.

High-Tech Parking Meters To The Rescue!

Downtown Spokane has had its share of challenges the past few years: a struggling economy, budget cuts, the Eyesore Formerly Known As The Ridpath, and snow berms that reappear each winter, despite the fact that most rational people agree that it's a lousy way to clear the streets.

But help may be on the way! 

If you believe the U.S. Conference of Mayors, new high-tech parking meters are just what Spokane needs to get us out of this funk.  The organization recently gave an award to the IPS Group (a company that makes fancy parking meters) and the City of Los Angeles for the great success they've had with the new meters that IPS has installed in LA.  You can read all about it here, but the important thing to note is that these same meters are currently under trial in downtown Spokane.  That's right, you may soon be plugging the same kind of trendy, cutting-edge meter enjoyed by Hollywood stars.  It's already sounding good, right?

So what's so great about these new meters?  For starters, they could help fill Spokane city coffers in several ways.  In LA, parking revenue increased about 50% with the new meters.  They're solar-powered, so that eliminates the need for replacement batteries.  Best of all, they take coins or credit cards.  If you've ever found yourself contorted on the floor of your car, desperately searching for a phantom quarter wedged under the driver's seat, you realize what a blessing this is.