The City of Spokane Parks Department will be applying for multiple permits as they redevelop Riverfront Park. All permitting materials will be available on this web page. The redevelopment of Riverfront Park will be completed in multiple phases. There will be general information used for all phases and additional specific information on each phase. Additional information on the entire Riverfront Park Redevelopment may be found on the http://riverfrontparknow.com website.
City of Spokane Parks Department
Application/Permit Number:: Z16-667SCUP
This Riverfront Park proposal continues with the ongoing redevelopment of Riverfront Park in Spokane, Washington that began with the Howard Street South Channel Bridge Replacement Project and the new Recreational Rink and Skyride Facility in the southwest corner of the park. This proposal includes construction and operations throughout the entire park to replace or repair park bridges, construct new park facilities, conduct landscaping improvements, and related park improvement activities that may include the following depending upon available funding:
This Riverfront Park proposal consists of two parts, 1) a Year Round Recreational Rink and Skyride Facility (Recreational Rink and Skyride Facility) and 2) the Central Meadow Temporary Event Location (Central Meadow), both projects are proposed in the Riverfront Park Master Plan.
Year Round Recreational Rink and Skyride Facility – The proposed project consists of an approximately 14,500 square foot ice skating ribbon, which includes a skating pond of approximately 3,500 square feet that will replace the existing ice rink in Riverfront Park’s Pavilion. The new ice rink will be utilized for ice skating use in the winter months and dry floor use during the warmer months. Dry floor uses consist of walking, public displays, craft and food shows, farmer's markets, and music/artistic performances. The existing Skyride ticket booth, control station, and queuing area will be removed with the ride and controls remaining. The existing public restrooms north of the gondola (existing Skyride) will also be removed. The power and control station will be relocated to the new (year around) recreational building (up to 7,500 square feet); consisting of rentals, sales, restrooms, concessions/food service (has a Type 1 Vent Hood and can accommodate a full-service kitchen), rental rooms, storage room, the ice ribbon controls, ice ribbon and ice grounds maintenance and ice rink operational/mechanical equipment. Site redevelopment for the project includes new site lighting, stormwater facilities, utilities, pavers, fencing, new signage and landscaping in the middle of the ice ribbon and also surrounding the recreational ice rink that will be integrated into the overall Riverfront Park Master Plan (Go to the end of the application to obtain more details on the Recreational Rink and Skyride Facility).
Central Meadow – Temporary site improvements will be made to the Central Meadow (area of approximately 60,000 square feet). The work consists removing existing grassy turf; re-grading the site to make it more level in the interior of the bermed area; removing trees to open up the space for park events; upgrading the irrigation; adding a water line, a new transformer and electrical distribution; and replacing the turf. This site modification provides a temporary green space that can temporarily accommodate vendors during park events.
The Hearing Examiner has issued his decision for the Riverfront Park Recreational Rink and Skyride Facility.
Application Materials:
The proposed project is to conduct investigations throughout Riverfront Park. Activities will include but are not limited to geotechnical investigations, locating utilities, performing maintenance activities, and environmental investigations including cultural resources and hazardous materials surveys. This work is needed to support the park redevelopment designs and to understand parameters for park redevelopment activities including the park bridges (Mid-Channel Bridge, Howard Street North Channel Bridge (North Channel), Wooden and Suspension Bridges, and other bridges), the Looff Carousel Building, Havermale Island (including Theme Stream water feature, north/south promenade, east/west promenade, destination point, Central Plaza, and Imax/U.S. Pavilion), Canada Island, the North Bank, the Park's maintenance building, and any other park improvements and landscaping as part of the Riverfront Park Redevelopment Project.
Shoreline Exemption Issued
The Spokane Parks and Recreation Department is replacing the Howard Street South Channel Bridge (South Channel Bridge). The existing bridge is being replaced with a smaller bridge, within the existing bridge 'footprint' to mitigate deteriorated capacity and safety of the existing structure. Also, as part of that project, the existing Theme Stream Bridge will be temporarily modified with a contained earth fill to provide construction access to the South Channel Bridge. This proposal includes other temporary construction related activities for the bridge replacement including the Sister Cities' laydown and staging area north of the bridge and another staging area south of the bridge.
Shoreline Exemption Issued
The proposed project is to conduct geotechnical subsurface investigations for the ice ribbon and Ice Rink/Sky Ride building construction, the Howard Street South Channel Bridge access road from Post Street to the Sister Cities site in Riverfront Park, and at the temporary and permanent Theme stream crossings. This work is needed for design and to understand parameters for the Ice Rink./Sky Ride project and the temporary and permanent Theme Stream crossing.
Shoreline Exemption Issued
Written comments should be sent via mail or email:
Planning and Development Services
Tami Palmquist, AICP, CFM
Associate Planner
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99201-3329
tpalmquist@spokanecity.org
