City allocates $1.1 million to Parks & Recreation in first round
Parks & Recreation: 311 or 509.755.2489
Monday, January 10, 2022 at 12:08 p.m.
SPOKANE – Spokane Parks & Recreation was allocated $1,120,000 in the first round of the City of Spokane’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) appropriations last week.
How those funds are spent will be based largely on community feedback gathered though the in-development Spokane Parks & Recreation Master Plan (www.SpokaneParksMasterPlan.org), and through the City of Spokane’s ARP outreach efforts.
“What we’re hearing from the community across our outreach channels is fairly consistent; people would like to see Parks & Recreation invest funds in park restrooms and neighborhood park play equipment/amenities,” said Garrett Jones, director of Parks & Recreation. “There is also a desire to invest in parks in lower-income neighborhoods. These were all first-tier requests from the community, and we want to ensure these fund allocations are public-driven.”
Now, Parks & Recreation will finalize an investment plan for the $1.1M in ARP funds, prioritizing parks in lower income census tracts to receive restroom and playground improvements. The plan will be shared with the City Council and City Administration prior to implementation for final approval.
“The recent renovation of Dutch Jake’s park in West Central is a shining example of a community coming together to revitalize their neighborhood park, and collaborating with a generous funder to provide additional resources,” added Jones. “And amidst the pandemic, all of our parks have seen increased use, bringing restroom issues to the forefront.”
Park restrooms are often only open May – October, due to restroom water lines that need to be turned off in colder months to prevent freezing pipes. In recent years, several aging sewer lines serving park restrooms have collapsed or deteriorated, further limiting restroom service. Restrooms require significant staffing to keep clean, and are targets for vandalism; repairs can take weeks to complete due to labor and parts shortages. Increased funding can help address maintenance and staffing needs to keep restrooms open more frequently.
In-Development Master Plan
An updated Master Plan is nearing completion for Parks & Recreation. The public-driven plan will identify and address gaps in our park system, and guide development of park programming to enhance recreational offerings. The final plan document will guide the Parks & Recreation Division’s focus, direction, and spending over the next ten years.
This outreach summary infographic shows feedback gathered from the statistically-valid survey last summer, and mirrors the trends gathered from over 5,000 community members who shared their thoughts via survey, pop-up events, virtual workshops, focus groups, and an online mapping activity.
There is one final upcoming opportunity this spring for the community to weigh-in on the Master Plan, by reviewing a plan draft and sharing feedback. Details will be shared as they are finalized.
More on APR Funding
ARP funding is part of an initial allocation and appropriation of $14 million in American Rescue Plan funds designated for the City of Spokane. The City received more than $81 million total in ARP funds. For more, visit https://my.spokanecity.org/covid19/arpa/.
About City of Spokane Parks & Recreation
City of Spokane Parks and Recreation stewards nearly 120 properties across 4,000 acres of park land, including manicured parks, natural lands, aquatic centers, golf courses, sports complexes, and an arboretum. We also offer hundreds of recreation opportunities for all ages and abilities to improve the health and quality of life for our community. Enjoy all your city has to offer by visiting spokaneparks.org. Follow us @SpokaneParks on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
-###-
The City of Choice
509.625.6200
parks@spokanecity.org
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201
