Fundraising project looks to honor those who made Expo ’74 a reality
Parks & Recreation: 311 or 509.755.2489
Thursday, August 11, 2022 at 1:59 p.m.
SPOKANE – A group of volunteers are looking to honor the contributions of King Cole and the numerous other stakeholders who made Expo ’74 and Riverfront Park a reality, with a named King Cole Way and artistic gateway in Riverfront Park. The project will be funded entirely through donations.
Via a Request for Proposals, several artists submitted project ideas for what the artistic gateway could look like. The King Cole Commemoration Project team narrowed the submission down to their top 3 proposals, and each will be presented at an open house where community members can see renderings and hear from the artists. Community input will be a contributing factor in selecting the final artist or art team, along with input from the Joint Arts Committee and the Park Board.
King Cole Commemoration Project Art Open House
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
5 – 7 P.M.
City Hall, Council Chambers (lower level)
Virtual attendance option via WebEx
Broadcast live on City Cable 5
The project comes ahead of the 50th anniversary of Expo ’74 in 2024. Currently, King Cole is recognized by the naming of King Cole Bridge, located at the southeast corner of Riverfront Park, and consists of a wide wooden pedestrian bridge crossing the south channel of the Spokane River.
The King Cole Commemoration Project envisions an expanded King Cole Way, including art that is interactive, sculptural, kinetic, illuminated at night, or some combination of those elements, creating an iconic gateway into Riverfront Park.
The art piece is expected to be located on, or adjacent to, the existing wood bridge. The art piece will anchor the expanded King Cole Way which would incorporate an artistic wayfinding treatment and/or elements that include acknowledgment of historic structures and key Expo ’74 stakeholders, the contribution of the Spokane Tribe, and the railroad lines once on Havermale Island.
The King Cole Commemoration Project is the work of the newly-forming Friends of Riverfront Spokane. The project will be funded entirely through donations. To contribute, visit www.innovia.org/kccp
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.
-###-