David Condon, Mayor, No Phone Number Available
Monday, September 21, 2015 at 2:36 p.m.
The Gathering Place connects Riverfront Park to Huntington Park and ultimately the Spokane River. It connects people to memories new and old. So it is fitting that we officially recognize the plaza beside the Spokane River as The Gathering Place.
On Monday, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Avista and others joined us to unveil the naming stone at The Gathering Place. The stone includes the plaza's name in both English and Salish. The river and falls just below the plaza served as a gathering place for native peoples for thousands of years.
The Gathering Place is one of those amazing adaptations that has given people a place to congregate, communicate and celebrate, much like those who came centuries before us. This vantage point to the falls, the power of the river and the beautiful surroundings has always been a draw and traces its commercial and interpersonal significance to our earliest days.
Like so many great things happening in the City of Choice, The Gathering Place and Huntington Park are a result of collaboration and community partnerships. Avista had the vision and generosity to build this tremendous community gift. The Spokane Tribe worked with the City and Avista to help connect our community and guests to the river and its significant Spokane heritage. The City Council embraced the vision of returning this space to its historic use as a place where people gather to conduct business, renew acquaintances and make new introductions. Council members worked with the Spokane Tribe to name the plaza. And City staff had the privilege of working with each of the partners to bring this great vision to reality.
