Parks & Recreation Department News Releases for 2021

December

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Return to Riverfront Park

Dec. 23 at 10:44 a.m. - The tradition of a fireworks show on New Year’s Eve returns to Riverfront Park this year.

Parks & Recreation + Partners Bring Holiday Cheer with Festive Events

Dec. 3 at 11:10 a.m. - This 2021 holiday season, Parks & Recreation and partners are offering festive events and activities to bring cheer through the New Year.

November

Numerica Skate Ribbon Plans to Open for Ice Skating on November 23

Nov. 17 at 4:50 p.m. - The Numerica Skate Ribbon is anticipated open on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021 welcoming ice skaters for another beautiful winter in the park.

Parks & Public Works Enter 10-year Water Conservation Partnership

Nov. 16 at 10:59 a.m. - The City of Spokane Parks and Public Works divisions are entering a new 10-year partnership to conserve water on our beloved public outdoor spaces.

New Playgrounds Coming to Logan Peace and AM Cannon Parks

Nov. 12 at 12:13 p.m. - AM Cannon & Logan Peace Parks are each getting a new playground to replace aging and damaged play equipment.

Winter Farmers Market at Riverfront Pavilion Begins November 10

Nov. 8 at 2:14 p.m. - Riverfront’s popular Winter Market returns for a second year, featuring additional local farmers, processors, artisans, and hand crafters

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Renovation Ribbon Cutting on Veterans Day

Nov. 2 at 3:21 p.m. - Renovations are nearly complete at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Riverfront, thanks to an organized group of veterans and generous donations.

September

Comstock Irrigation Replacements Begins Next Week

Sept. 30 at 12:48 p.m. - The January windstorm brought significant damage to Comstock; work to replace damage begins next week, and is expected to be completed by winter.

City to Celebrate Saving of Riverfront Clock Tower on October 13

Sept. 23 at 9:04 a.m. - City of Spokane and Mayor Nadine Woodward will honor the man who spearheaded the community effort to save the Riverfront clock tower 50 years ago

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Renovation Underway in Riverfront

Sept. 13 at 5:16 p.m. - The memorial will be cleaned, have its cracks repaired, and be polished. Then, several amenities will be added to the memorial.

Spokane Parks Master Plan Workshops September 14, 22

Sept. 8 at 12:18 p.m. - Spokane Parks & Recreation is creating a roadmap for the next 10 years, and is asking for additional community input through virtual workshops

Spokane Symphony Labor Day Concert Update

Sept. 2 at 5:18 p.m. - A reminder about the Spokane Symphony’s free Labor Day Weekend concert, with an update about the Spokane Symphony’s COVID-19 health policies.

Downriver Golf Course Irrigation Replacement Begins After Labor Day

Sept. 2 at 11:54 a.m. - A full irrigation replacement will begin at Downriver golf course just after Labor Day 2021

August

Pool Season Wraps Up with the Return of the Doggie Dip

Aug. 27 at 3:31 p.m. - 2021 regular season at all six Aquatic Centers wraps up on Friday, Aug. 27. Splash pads will remain open until Tuesday, Sept. 7, just after Labor Day.

Free Labor Day Spokane Symphony Concert at Riverfront Pavilion

Aug. 12 at 3:06 p.m. - Monday, September 6 at 6 P.M. the Spokane Symphony will play a free community concert at the Riverfront Pavilion

Hooptown USA to Renovate Three Hoopfest Community Courts in Parks

Aug. 6 at 10:12 a.m. - Three Hoopfest community basketball courts are set for improvements this summer, thanks to Hooptown USA and generous donors.

July

Manito Koi Pond Project Complete, Japanese Garden Re-Opens

July 20 at 12:11 p.m. - A project to save millions of gallons of water a year at the Koi Pond in Manito Park’s famous Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden is complete.

Spokane Parks asks for community input on park planning survey

July 13 at 8:38 a.m. - Spokane Parks is creating a roadmap for the next 10 years, and wants to hear from the community through a survey that opened today.

Shakespeare in the Park comes to Riverfront this summer

July 9 at 12:39 p.m. - Riverfront partners with Spokane Shakespeare Society to bring Shakespeare in the Park to Riverfront for family-friendly, free community performances.

POSTPONED: Drive-in 4th of July Fireworks 2021

July 1 at 6:38 p.m. - Four planned 4th of July fireworks shows at Merkel, Ferris, Avista Stadium, and Plante's Ferry are cancelled due to increased risk of fire danger.

June

Splash Pad Update 6/28

June 30 at 12:51 p.m. - All 19 City splash pads are operational and open to the public!

Splash Pad Update 6/25

June 25 at 2:22 p.m. - Fifteen splash pads now open!

Splash Pad Update 6/24

June 24 at 4:50 p.m. - Splash pads at Franklin, Thornton Murphy, and Underhill parks now open; total open splash pads is 12.

Free Open Swimming Starts July 5 at City Pools

June 24 at 4:44 p.m. - 2021 Aquatics Season Update

MultiCare Hosts ‘Rebound Spokane’ June 26 in Riverfront Park

June 21 at 2:10 p.m. - MultiCare Health System will host a pop-up vaccine clinic on Saturday, June 26 from 12 – 5 PM in Riverfront Park with Hooptown USA

2021 Drive-in 4th of July Fireworks at multiple sites across Spokane

June 17 at 3:38 p.m. - Several partners & underwriters are coming together again to bring the community a geographically dispersed 4th of July celebration at four locations

Splash Pad Update 6/11

June 11 at 4:53 p.m. - Splash pads at Chief Garry, Coeur d’Alene, and Manito parks are now open

Splash Pad Update 6/4

June 4 at 2:39 p.m. - Now open: splash pads at Audubon, Merkel, Friendship, Pacific, and Riverfront park!

The Friends of Manito Art Festival 2021 - save the date

June 4 at 2:11 p.m. - Meet local artists, browse their wares, and support Spokane's creative community in iconic Manito Park on July 31!

Manito Spring Plant Sale 2021

June 4 at 10:40 a.m. - Manito's Spring Plant Sale returns, June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, & 12. Reservations required as part of COVID protocols.

New Art at People’s Park Salutes Native American Ingenuity

June 2 at 8:02 p.m. - Completion nears on "Convergence" at People’s Park with sandblasting of 16 pictographs created by tribal youth from the Wellpinit School District.

Splash Pad Update

June 2 at 2:22 p.m. - An update on splash pads opening in 2021

May

SPOKANE PARKS RESTAURANT LOCATIONS REOPEN FOR THE SEASON

May 28 at 1:57 p.m. - Lancer Hospitality named the exclusive food and beverage partner for Spokane Parks & Recreation

Drop-in COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at Riverfront Friday with MultiCare

May 19 at 11:39 a.m. - MultiCare is partnering with Riverfront to provide a drop-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic during the grand opening of the North Bank Friday, May 21.

Goats Employed to Aid in Fire Prevention at City Parks

May 13 at 3:35 p.m. - Starting Friday, May 14, 2021, about 200 goats will be on the job to help reduce fire risk at three of Spokane’s natural park lands.

Drop-in, Pop-up COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics at Riverfront Today, Friday

May 12 at 1:07 p.m. - Riverfront Park and the City of Spokane are partnering with Safeway/Albertsons and the WA DOH to provide two drop-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

Riverfront Ice Age Floods Playground & North Bank Open May 21

May 6 at 1:52 p.m. - Riverfront’s Ice Age Floods playground and additional amenities will open to the public on Friday, May 21, 2021 at noon.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with History & Culture at Riverfront Market

May 4 at 10:51 a.m. - Riverfront is partnering with the Hispanic Business & Professional Association of Spokane to host a Mexican cultural exhibit on Cinco de Mayo.

Pre-season Lap Swim, Swim Lesson Update 2021

May 3 at 2:21 p.m. - Pre-season adult lap swim at Witter opens May 10 (reservations required), swim lesson registration now open.

April

Food Drive at Riverfront Spring Market Wednesday

April 27 at 11:16 a.m. - Second Harvest will be onsite at Wednesday’s Riverfront Market to collect food donations, share nutrition resources and healthy recipes.

Critical Need for Lifeguards & Swim Instructors This Summer

April 26 at 1:50 p.m. - The City plans to open all six aquatic centers this year, but one barrier is standing in the way – finding enough lifeguards and swim instructors.

New Street Trees to be Planted Friday as Part of SpoCanopy

April 22 at 5:11 p.m. - 25 new street trees will be planted in the West Central neighborhood on Friday, April 23 as part of SpoCanopy’s goals for increased tree canopy cover.

Riverfront Park Redevelopment - Spring 2021 Update

April 21 at 4:05 p.m. - The North Bank, Ice Age Floods Playground, wheels park, Hooptown USA court, Roskelley Performance Climbing Boulder, parking & more - opening late May!

Organic land management demo begins in May at Chief Garry Park

April 20 at 2:56 p.m. - Organic land management demonstration at Chief Garry Park through a collaboration with Beyond Pesticides, Natural Grocers, & City Council.

Comstock Park Reopens Today

April 14 at 10:01 a.m. - Comstock Park officially reopens today, as clean-up from the January windstorm is substantially complete.

Riverfront Park’s North Suspension Bridge Reconstruction Begins in May

April 13 at 11:03 a.m. - Reconstruction of the north suspension pedestrian bridge in Riverfront Park will begin in May, and re-open to the public in winter/spring 2022.

Spokane Parks Windstorm Restoration Plans Underway

April 7 at 7:34 p.m. - Parks & Recreation is working with The Lands Council to mitigate damage to our urban tree canopy from the Jan. 13, 2021 windstorm.

March

Parks & Recreation Safely Offers Taste of Normalcy with Spring Program

March 29 at 5:41 p.m. - This spring, with revised protocols, we are safely offering the most robust assortment of recreation opportunities in over a year.

Indian Canyon Golf Course Opens Friday, March 26, 2021

March 24 at 6:50 p.m. - Indian Canyon golf course will open for the season on Friday, March 26.

Manito Park Koi Pond Conservation Project Begins March 2021

March 17 at 11:52 a.m. - Koi Pond in Manito will undergo water conservation project to improve pond quality, save 16 – 18 millions of gallons of water annually

Spring Activities Begin at Riverfront Park

March 10 at 11:18 a.m. - Spring 2021 activities at Riverfront include an outdoor market, health and fitness programs, and an interactive kid’s puzzle exploring downtown

Downriver Golf Course opens Wednesday, Esmeralda opens Friday

March 9 at 1:10 p.m. - Two more Spokane golf courses are opening this week – Downriver opens Wednesday, March 10, 2021 and Esmeralda opens Friday, March 12, 2021.

The Creek at Qualchan golf course opens Thursday, March 4, 2021

March 2 at 1:54 p.m. - The Creek at Qualchan opens March 4, with permanent greens and carts allowed. For tee times, please call 448-9317.

February

Looff Carrousel to Reopen in Riverfront Park March 1, 2021

Feb. 25 at 5:24 p.m. - Riverfront Park is excited to announce the Looff Carrousel will reopen Monday, March 1, 2021 under Phase 2 guidelines.

Hoopfest + Parks & Rec offer first outdoor basketball league

Feb. 19 at 3:39 p.m. - The Spokane Hoopfest Association and Spokane Parks & Recreation are partnering to present the City’s first Hooptown USA Outdoor League this spring.

COVID-19 update for Parks & Recreation: February 12, 2021

Feb. 12 at 4:58 p.m. - What the move to Phase 2 means for City of Spokane Parks & Recreation

January

Comstock Park Temporarily Closed While Crews Mitigate Hazards, Damage

Jan. 14 at 4:16 p.m. - Comstock Park on Spokane’s south hill is temporarily closed while work crews assess and mitigate hazards from high winds.

Human Trafficking Support Signs Placed at Riverfront Park

Jan. 8 at 2:03 p.m. - Beginning Monday, January 11, 2021, signs providing resources and support for human trafficking victims will be placed at Riverfront Park.