Park and Recreation Master Plan April 2006 City of Spokane Valley
Park and
•. ecreation Plan
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APRIL 2006
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Submitted by
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815 SW 2nd Ave,Suite 200
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(503)297-1005
www.migcom.com
PREFACE
The Plan presented in this document provides the foundation for a park
and recreation program for Spokane Valley, Washington. This plan is
somewhat unique in that it is for a new city that was incorporated in
March 2003. Instantly becoming a city of nearly 84,000 people, the �.
Park and Recreation Department faced the task of maintaining an
aging park system and developing policies for the delivery of leisure
services.
The challenge for this Plan has been to define a strategic position for
the City in park and recreation services. Until the City's incorporation,
Spokane County offered limited parks in the area, and the YMCA,
private sport groups and the City of Spokane provided most recreation
and organized sport programs. The City of Spokane Valley has
assumed primary responsibility for providing parks. Spokane County
manages the adult softball program and leases several of the sport . z w 6�' r " '_'
fields owned by Spokane Valley. Youth sports are still primarily
provided by the YMCA and private youth sport groups.
This brings up the following questions:
• What programs and services should Spokane Valley
provide?
• What would be the most efficient makeup of a park and
recreation program?
The major factors that determine the efficiency of a park and
recreation program are: 1) the ability to generate revenue from
services rendered; and 2) the cost to maintain facilities. While good
design can help reduce operating costs, the greater impact usually
comes from facilities and activities that generate revenue. The chart
below illustrates the potential revenue from three basic types of leisure
services:
Parks Only ®5°/0
Programs Only . - 90%
Major Facilities ( _ —450%
Financial Return for Services
This Plan recommends a balance between parks, recreation programs,
and major facilities.
The Plan has identified several key issues and actions the City should
address in the near future. These are:
• Community Support: The park and recreation program in
Spokane Valley is new and, as a result, has had little direct contact
with interest groups within the community. The Department needs
to develop an advocacy group to champion the benefits of park
and recreation services. The Plan identifies a number of actions to
take to meet this goal.
• Park Rehabilitation: The current park system is not only limited in
terms of the areas it serves, but also faces a great need for facility
improvements. A program of park rehabilitation to address the
years of deferred maintenance should be initiated.
• Aquatics: The City owns three outdoor swimming pools. While
they are in adequate condition, the pools do need some upgrades
to meet safety codes and operational requirements. The County
has earmarked $1 .6 million dollars for the City of Spokane Valley
to build a swimming pool. While this is enough money to build a
very modest outdoor pool, it is not enough to build a suitable
public indoor pool. As a result, the Plan recommends upgrading
the three pools to meet standards and develop a major water
playground at Valley Mission Park. In the long term, the City may
wish to pursue the development of an indoor aquatic center,
although the anticipated development of a major aquatic center in
Coeur d'Alene could impact that decision.
• New Parks: Many neighborhoods in Spokane Valley are not
conveniently located near a park. Meeting park needs should be
one of the highest priorities for the City. This will be a challenge in
some neighborhoods where little vacant land exists. However, the
Plan addresses how this can be achieved. Of most importance is
for the City to acquire parkland while some parcels exist. This is
particularly true for the Greenacres Neighborhood.
• Recreation Programs and Services: Recreation classes and
programs provide a considerable benefit and reach a significant
number of city residents. Because some of the cost of these
services can be offset by program fees, the net cost to the City can
minimal. Because of these factors, the Parks and Recreation
Department should develop a comprehensive recreation program
that serves all age groups and abilities.
• Partnerships: The City cannot and should not provide all of the
recreation services needed in the community. It is important for the
City of Spokane Valley to monitor community needs and note
where overlap and voids exist. One way of efficiently providing
park and recreation services is to partner with private and non-
profit organizations.
• Plan Update: Because The City of Spokane Valley was recently
incorporated, the Plan should be reviewed and updated in
approximately four years. This will give the community time to
establish its roles and responsibilities and reflect on the
recommendations of the Plan.
CHAPTER 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION PAGE
1 .1 Introduction 1-2
1 .2 Public Involvement 1-3
1 .3 Report Organization 1-4
1 .4 Goals, Policies and Objectives 1-5
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING CONTEXT
2.1 Regional Context 2-2
2.2 Planning Area 2-3
2.3 Demographic Characteristics 2-3
2.4 Land Use 2-9
2.5 Housing 2-11
2.6 Population Growth 2-11
CHAPTER 3: EXISTING PARKS AND FACILITIES
3.1 Park Land Definitions 3-1
3.2 Park Land Inventory 3-2
3.3 Park Site Analysis 3-10
3.4 Summary of Recreation Facilities 3-22
CHAPTER 4: EXISTING OPERATIONS
4.1 Organizational Structure 4-2
4.2 Staffing Levels 4-5
4.3 Operations 4-6
4.4 Maintenance Operations 4-11
4.5 Recreation Participation 4-11
CHAPTER 5: NEEDS ASSESSMENT
5.1 Household Recreation Survey 5.1
5.2 Public Visioning Workshop 5-3
5.3 Focus Group Meetings 5-3
5.4 Telephone Survey 5-4
5.5 Organized Sports Questionnaire 5-4
5.6 Summary of Park Land Needs 5-5
5.7 Summary of Recreation Facility Needs 5-12
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 6: RECOMMENDATIONS PAGE
6.1 Parkland 6-1
6.2 Trails, Pathways, and Bikeways 6-30
6.3 Administration and Management 6-34
6.4 Maintenance 6-40
6.5 Recreation Programs and Services 6-41
6.6 Riverfront Access 6-43
CHAPTER 7: AQUATIC FACILITIES
7.1 Current Swimming Opportunities 7-1
7.2 Demand for Outdoor Pools 7-1
7.3 Leisure Pool Concept 7-2
7.4 Demand for Indoor Family Leisure Pool 7-3
7.5 Aquatic Recommendations 7-9
CHAPTER 8: IMPLEMENTATION
8.1 Funding Sources 8-1
8.2 Capital Projects 8-5
8.3 Preliminary Project Priorities 8-6
8.4 Basis for Estimating Costs 8-7
8.5 Capital Costs 8-8
8.6 Current Funding Availability 8-8
8.7 Financing Strategy 8-9
APPENDICES
City Park and Recreation Areas A
Park Land and Recreation Facility Inventory B
Demand Analysis C
Design Guidelines D
Park and Recreation Plan 1-6
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER l•
INTRODUCTION
In the Spring of 2004, the City of Spokane Valley initiated a study to ''deir- 4,
assess community needs for parks and recreation facilities and develop t ,
a vision for meeting those needs. The outgrowth of this study is a 20-
year Park and Recreation Plan that assesses public demand for park
and recreation facilities, establishes policies and guidelines for park
iir
planning and development, proposes future parks and trails,
recommends improvements to existing facilities, and describes a -
financing strategy for funding the actions. j
The City of Spokane Valley was incorporated in March 2003, and with
a population of 83,950, became the eighth largest city in Washington
State. The City encompasses approximately 38.5 square miles of land
area. For a new city, Spokane Valley already has a large service area
and population in need of park and recreation services. •
Within its boundaries, the City of Spokane Valley contains 543 acres of
parks, open space, and recreation areas located at 18 sites within the
community. Of that amount, the City owns 163 acres. Nearly 380
acres include natural areas and corridors owned by the State of
Washington. Most sports fields and facilities in Spokane Valley are
provided by the three school districts—West Valley, Central Valley, and
East Valley. At this point, the City has a limited recreation program
and contracts out park maintenance and the operation of the three
swimming pools.
Today, the City has taken steps to position itself as a regional leader in
recreation. For example, CenterPlace which was opened in the Fall of
2005, will combine with the recently completed Mirabeau Meadows
Park and Mirabeau Springs to form a conference and cultural center
with regional appeal.
Great opportunities exist for the development of a comprehensive park
and recreation program in Spokane Valley. The Park and Recreation
Plan will help identify those opportunities and create an overall vision
for the community's future. As Spokane Valley grows, the City will
need clear direction on how to balance community needs for parks,
facilities, programs, and services. These needs include improvements
to existing parks, the acquisition of neighborhood and community
parks, the development of sports fields, swimming opportunities, and
trails, and the expansion of program and recreation services. This
plan provides guidance on how to address these divergent needs while
developing an innovative park system to represent the new city.
1- 1 Park & Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 1
1 .1 PLAN DEVELOPMENT
The planning process for developing the City's Park and Recreation
Plan was made up of four phases (Figure 1 .1).
Phase I Phase II Phase III Phase IV
LIIImm 4IIMLIIIm 4=Lammo tilimmo
Spring-Fall 2004 Winter 2005 Spring-Summer 2005 Summer 2005
Figure 1-1: Planning Process
• Phase I: To establish a framework for the plan, Phase I included an
inventory and analysis of existing recreation resources in the Spokane
Valley planning area. This information incorporated a community profile,
a review of population growth patterns,an inventory of the City's existing
parks and recreation facilities,and an analysis of park and recreation
operations, maintenance,and programs.
• Phase II: A comprehensive assessment of recreation needs in the Spokane
Valley area was conducted by measuring public opinion, recreation
patterns,and perceived needs through several public involvement venues.
These included a household survey,a public visioning forum, input from
staff and stakeholders and a survey of organized sports organizations.
Based on community demand, needs were determined for park land,
open space, facilities and recreation programs.
• Phase III: In Phase III, recommendations were developed for
improving existing parks and acquiring and developing new parks,
trails, and recreational facilities. In addition, strategies were
proposed to expand programming and to bring park maintenance
in line with community expectations.
• Phase IV: The final phase involved creating an action plan to
implement recommendations and developing a financing strategy
to fund priority improvements.
Park and Recreation Plan 1-2
CHAPTER 1
1 .2 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
To develop a solid foundation for the Park and Recreation Plan,
Spokane Valley residents contributed to the development of the plan
through five public involvement venues:
• Household Recreation Survey: A city-wide survey of public attitudes,
recreation interests, and recreation participation was conducted in
Fall 2004 and Spring 2005. Questionnaires were distributed to
selected households in the City limits of Spokane Valley, and 398
completed returns were received.
• Public Visioning Workshop: Approximately 33 residents participated
in a community workshop on November 4th, 2004, to discuss their
vision for parks, recreation facilities, and programs and services in
Spokane Valley.
• Focus Group Meetings: Eight focus group meetings were held to obtain
additional input from special interest groups, including youth sports,adult
sports,cultural arts,SCOPE,trails/open space,seniors,Green Acres
Neighborhood, Ponderosa Neighborhood,and representatives from the
Planning Department and Planning Commission. Detailed findings of
these meetings are found in Appendix C (Demand Analysis) but some of
the key points were:
• More emphasis should be placed on City managed facilities
rather than relying entirely on school facilities.
• There is a lack of programs, services and facilities for the youth
(age 5-12).
• The City should raise the awareness of benefits of park and
recreation activities and build public support for its programs.
• The City should develop partnerships with other cities, Spokane
County, schools, service organizations, and the public in general
to share in the cost of service delivery.
• Telephone Survey: A citywide telephone survey was conducted in the
Spring of 2004. This survey was conducted for the City's Comprehensive
Plan and provided valuable park and recreation information. All totaled,
1-3 Park & Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 1
409 responses were received from 3,775 attempted calls. The survey
addressed many City services, including questions regarding the delivery of
park and recreation services.
• Sports Group Survey: During the Fall of 2004,organized sport
questionnaires were sent to all organized sport groups providing services
within Spokane Valley.
In addition to the public processes described above, key staff members
met regularly throughout the planning process to discuss critical issues.
1 .3 REPORT ORGANIZATION
The Park and Recreation Plan is organized into eight chapters and four
appendices:
• Chapter 1: Introduction describes the purpose of the report, the
planning process, the public involvement activities, and the
9 ti„I IPIDC organization of this document.
• Chapter 2: Community Context discusses the profile of Spokane
Valley that provides the framework for the Plan. This includes a
discussion of the planning area, the regional context, natural
features, climate, and demographic characteristics.
• Chapter 3: Existing Parks and Facilities summarizes the park and facility
inventory and analyzes the City's park land according to a park
classification system.
• Chapter 4: Existing Operations analyzes the organizational structure
of the Park and Recreation Department and presents an
assessment of staffing, operations, maintenance, and programs.
• Chapter 5: Needs Assessrnent presents an overview of the
methodology and results of the park and recreation facility needs
assessment process.
• Chapter 6: Recommendations includes recommendations for
improvements to existing parks and for the acquisition and
development of new sites and specialized facilities. It also
introduces strategies for recreation programming and the
administration and maintenance of parks and facilities.
• Chapter 7:Aquatic Facilities contains a market analysis for aquatic
facilities in Spokane Valley, including cost estimates and
recommendations for design.
Park and Recreation Plan 1-4
CHAPTER 1
• Chapter 8: Implementation identifies potential funding sources and
financing strategies for priority capital improvements.
• Appendix A: City Park and Recreation Areas provides a summary
description of existing City parks, along with their facilities,
condition, and planned improvements.
• Appendix B: Park and Recreation Facilities Inventory contains a detailed
inventory of park land by provider, private facilities, and sports
fields, tennis courts, gymnasiums, and pools within the Spokane
Valley planning area.
• Appendix C: Demand Analysis is a compilation of data from the
Recreation Survey.
• Appendix D: Park Design Considerations presents acquisition
guidelines and design standards for park development
In addition to the above appendices, a series of background
reports called Discussion Papers were prepared.
1 .4 GOALS, POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES
The goals, planning policies, and objectives listed below create a
framework for implementing the Park and Recreation Plan. The goals
are statements about Spokane Valley's desired future. These goals are
supported by policies that guide plan implementation and objectives
that provide realistic, achievable, and measurable steps toward
reaching the goals. Together, the goals, policies, and objectives can
be used to help measure the plan's success.
Goal 1 : To develop a balanced, diverse, and accessible park and
recreation system that meets the specific needs of the residents of
Spokane Valley.
Policy 1-A: The City of Spokane Valley will endeavor to provide
park land and recreation facilities equitably throughout the city at
conveniently located and easily accessible sites.
Objective 1-A (1): Establish and regularly update a
comprehensive inventory of existing park and recreation
resources.
Objective 1-A (2): Consider all options, including partnerships
and collaborations, to acquire and develop neighborhood
parks and community parks in unserved or underserved areas,
as identified in the Recreation Needs Assessment.
1-5 Park & Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 1
Objective 1-A (3): Prioritize the acquisition and development of
park and recreation facilities that contribute to community
identity and community pride in Spokane Valley.
Policy 1-B: The City of Spokane Valley will attempt to provide
equitable and diverse recreation opportunities and activities for the
benefit of Spokane Valley residents and visitors to our community.
Objective 1-B (1): In the near term, offer a limited recreation
program that builds public interest and support. In the long
term, offer comprehensive program services to all ages,
abilities, and economic and cultural backgrounds.
Objective 1-B (2): Adapt programming to meet community
needs and desires as identified through community
questionnaires, focus group meetings, and public meeting
processes.
Objective 1-B (3): Periodically and systematically monitor,
evaluate, and revise existing programs and services to ensure
quality programming.
Objective 1-B (4): Identify anticipated service areas
(neighborhood, community, city-wide, regional) for future parks
and recreation programs to equitably serve all users.
Objective 1-B (5): Maximize the use of existing facilities and
programs to support local needs, while encouraging tourism
and regional use.
Goal 2: To maintain and manage the appropriate social, cultural,
physical, and natural resources required to maintain and improve the
quality of life in Spokane Valley.
Policy 2-A: The City of Spokane Valley will strive to design and
maintain parks and recreation amenities and facilities in a safe,
attractive manner, to contribute to the health, safety, and welfare of
the community.
Objective 2-A (1): Adopt and utilize Design Guidelines for site
selection and development in the acquisition and/or
development of parks within each park classification.
Objective 2-A (2): Prioritize the renovation and upgrade of
existing facilities to improve site safety and encourage facility
use.
Park and Recreation Plan 1-6
CHAPTER 1
Objective 2-A (3): Periodically assess the condition of park
amenities and facilities.
Objective 2-A (4): Establish a program and budget for
addressing deferred maintenance.
Objective 2-A (5): Embrace environmentally sound practices as
natural resource stewards.
Policy 2-B: The City of Spokane Valley will work to define and
standardize maintenance procedures for park land and significant
City resources.
Objective 2-B (1): Establish minimum maintenance standards
for the park system and establish a goal for minimum
maintenance cost per acre.
Policy 2-C: Within budget resources, the City of Spokane Valley will
seek to acquire park land with unique natural features or significant
natural resources in order to protect or preserve them for present
and future generations.
Objective 2-C (1): Seek to acquire riparian corridors where
feasible to protect these natural resources and to offer potential
sites for trail development.
Objective 2-C (2): Develop effective natural resource
management plans for significant natural areas within parks
and other City-owned or controlled lands to identify
management priorities and to guide development and
restoration decisions.
Objective 2-C (3): Directly and/or cooperatively acquire and
protect land within the flood zone of the Spokane River and
other drainage corridors. Plan park and recreation facilities
and public access to these areas where appropriate.
Objective 2-C (4): Prioritize critical natural resource areas
within Spokane Valley, including wetland areas, fish and
wildlife habitat areas, floodways/floodplains, and geologic
hazard areas.
Goal 3: To coordinate park and recreation planning, services, and
development to provide the highest level of service in a cost-efficient
and fiscally responsible way.
1-7 Park & Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 1
Policy 3-A: Generally, the City will not duplicate service nor
compete with private organizations in the delivery of park and
recreation services, unless other service providers are not meeting
the unique and specific needs of Spokane Valley residents.
Policy 3-B: The City of Spokane Valley will continue to foster
cooperative development of park and recreation resources and the
provision of services through private and public collaborations.
Objective 3-B (1): Work closely with the City Manager, City
Council, and other City departments to achieve mutually
beneficial objectives.
Objective 3-B (2): Work in cooperation with governmental
agencies, educational institutions, private and regional
recreation organizations, and citizen interest groups to
maximize the provision of parks and services.
Objective 3-B (3): Pursue partnerships as a key means for
leveraging resources to meet community needs for park land,
sports facilities, and services, while minimizing duplications of
effort.
Goal 4: Spokane Valley will continue efforts to provide an efficient
level of park and recreation services based on current financial
resources and the ability of residents to pay for those services
Policy 4-A: The City of Spokane Valley will strive provide facilities,
programs, and qualified personnel in a fiscally responsible and
cost effective manner.
Objective 4-A (1): Pursue cost sharing and cost recovery
mechanisms where appropriate.
Objective 4-A (2): Weigh the costs and benefits of
Departmental services and facilities to assist in decision-making
regarding programming and facility development.
Objective 4-A (3): Establish equitable fee structures for facilities
and programs to help ensure the long-term maintenance and
operation of facilities while ensuring affordability.
Objective 4-A (4): Establish more revenue-generating programs
to increase program funding and to help fund or subsidize
other programs and services.
Park and Recreation Plan 1-8
CHAPTER 1
Objective 4-A (5): Offer programs at a range of costs (free,
low-cost, full price) and implement other strategies to ensure
program affordability, while meeting city financial goals.
Policy 4-B: The City of Spokane Valley will strive to provide the
highest level of service possible within identified budget
parameters.
Policy 4-C: The City of Spokane Valley will periodically update and
revise the Master Plan to meet changing fiscal conditions.
Objective 4-C (1): Identify funding options for all proposed
projects.
Objective 4-C (2): Make fiscally reasonable recommendations
for the development of facilities and services that reflect
community desires and needs.
Policy4-D: Encourage the acquisition, maintenance and
preservation of public art that inspires and enriches citizens of
Spokane Valley.
Objective 4-D (1): Identify public art opportunities that
highlight the cultural and historical connections of
Spokane Valley through local history, environmental
systems and visual symbols.
Objective 4-D (2): Reflect community identify using public
art to create unique community places, define or re-define
public spaces, or suggest experiences that evoke a strong
sense of orientation.
Objective 4-D (3): Use public art to create visible
landmarks and artistic points of reference. These projects
should serve as a source of community pride and
reinforce and further define community identify.
Objective 4-D (4): Encourage public art in private
development by providing incentives to include works of
art in private development.
Objective 4-D (5): Utilize public art in Spokane Valley to
attract visitors to the City.
1-9 Park & Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 2
PLANNING CONTEXT
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 2•
PLANNING CONTEXT
This chapter provides a profile of Spokane Valley, Washington, in the
planning context of parks, recreation facilities, and programs. This
profile includes a description of the region, planning area and sub-
areas, natural resources, climate, demographics, land use, housing,
and population projections.
Key Findings
The following key findings emerged from an evaluation of the planning
context:
• Several natural resource areas in Spokane Valley are important for
recreation. These lands may be environmentally sensitive and have
limited development potential, but they are often conducive to
park, open space, and recreation uses. The most notable natural
resource in the city is the Spokane River and its adjoining riparian
corridor and flood zone.
• Spokane Valley has a four-season climate that supports diverse
recreation opportunities year-round. Indoor and outdoor facilities
should be considered to take advantage of this climate.
• Spokane Valley is the eighth largest city in Washington and the
second largest in Spokane County, with an estimated 2005
population of 85,010.
• Demographic characteristics often provide insights regarding
recreation demand, interests, and participation. Since Spokane
Valley was incorporated in 2003, there is no specific historical data
to illustrate demographic variations. However, population
characteristics for the area can be derived from regional
population statistics.
• Based on the assumptions developed in Spokane Valley's draft
Comprehensive Plan, the build-out population (year 2025) is
expected to reach over 107,000 people within the current city
limits.
Park and Recreation Plan 2-1
CHAPTER 2
2.1 REGIONAL CONTEXT
The City of Spokane Valley is located near the eastern border of the
State of Washington in an inland valley that stretches from the west
plains in Eastern Washington, eastward through Spokane and Spokane
Valley to Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Spokane Valley is
located in the heart of Spokane County. In general, the City is
bordered on the west by the City of Spokane and on the east by
unincorporated Spokane County, with the newly formed City of Liberty
Lake nearby. The City is located approximately 15 miles west of the
Idaho border and 110 miles south of the Canadian border. Figure 2-
1 illustrates this regional context.
Figure 2-1
Regional Context
e
C
� m
Lang Lake o'c'
Interstate vv City of Coeur d'Alene
s
pabane Rte
City of Spobane __- City of Liberty Lake
Liberty Lake
City of Spokane Valley,.
Coeur d'Alene Lake
Ln
2-2 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 2
2.2 PLANNING AREA
The planning area for the Spokane Valley Park and Recreation Plan
includes land within the city limits plus land within the City's urban --
growth area (UGA) (Figure 2-2).
The City of Spokane Valley encompasses roughly 38.5 square miles -
(24,640 acres) and generally follows the boundaries described below:
• North: the City is bounded by the Town of Millwood, the
Spokane River, and Swanson Avenue/Foster Road.
• East: Spokane Valley is bordered by Hodges Road, with the
City of Liberty Lake nearby.
• South: the City has an irregular boundary on the south but
generally located in the vicinity of 32nd Avenue.
• West: Havana Street is the primary divider on the western side
of the City.
2.3 DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
Demographic characteristics often r. El r -
provide insights assessing recreation + '
needs. The existing population base
in Spokane Valley serves as the ,1
foundation for park and facility L„
demand. Factors such as age and
income significantly affect the level of *' 'r • ''
participation and overall interest in
recreational activities. Employment, _` — —
education and ethnicity also play a
role.
Spokane Valley is the eighth largest
City in Washington and the second
largest in Spokane County with an •
estimated 2005 population of 85,010.
Table 2.1 illustrates population growth in Spokane County and the
State of Washington. There is no historical data prior to city
incorporation in 2003.
Since no 2000 Census data is available for Spokane Valley, it is
assumed that the age distribution of the City of Spokane Valley is
Park and Recreation Plan 2-3
CHAPTER 2
similar to the rest of Spokane County. As illustrated in Table 2.3,
approximately 25% of the population in Spokane Valley is expected to
be under the age of 18. Between 12-14% of City residents are likely
over the age of 65.
Seniors in Spokane Valley are better represented demographically than
in the State of Washington overall. In general, the older the
population, the less they participate in active or competitive recreation
activities. In contrast, youth tend to participate in recreation activities
more frequently than any other age group and favor more active and
competitive activities. These activities historically have included
basketball, baseball, soccer, and swimming. However, an emerging
trend has been toward non-competitive extreme sports, including
skateboarding, in-line skating, mountain biking and rock climbing.
Young adults (ages 18-35) are also an active age group and typically
form the core of adult competitive sports. While college students
represent a large percentage of Spokane Valley's overall population,
particularly for this age group, they may not reflect the needs or desires
of the community as a whole. Furthermore, universities and colleges
typically provide recreation programs and facilities to meet most of the
recreation needs of students. This dramatically reduces the demand
for City-provided programs and facilities for this age group.
Older adults (ages 35-65) typically have less time to devote to
recreational activities and tend to have a more passive interest in
recreation programs. They may, however, participate in parent/child
activities or spend time as a spectator at youth events. Personal
recreational time is at a premium and often limited to weekends and
evenings.
2-4 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 2
Table 2.1
Historical Population Growth 1900-2000
City of Spokane Valley, Spokane County and Washington
Year City of % Spokane % State of %Increase
Spokane Increase County Increase Washington
Valley
1900 -- -- 57,542 -- 518,104 --
1910 139,404 142.3 % 1,141,990 54.6%
1920 -- -- 141,289 1.4% 1,356,621 15.8 %
1930 -- -- 150,477 6.5 % 1,563,396 13.2 %
1940 -- -- 164,652 9.4% 1,736,191 10.0 %
1950 -- -- 221,561 34.6% 2,378,963 27.0%
1960 -- -- 278,333 25.6% 2,853,214 16.6%
1970 -- -- 287,487 3.3 % 3,143,250 9.2 %
1980 -- -- 341,835 18.9 % 4,132,353 23.9 %
1990 -- -- 361,333 5.7% 4,866,669 15.1 %
2000 -- -- 417,349 15.5 % 5,894,121 17.4%
Source: Washington State Office of Financial Management
Table 2.2
Age Distributions - 2000
Selected Geographic Areas
Ages Under Ages 18 Age 65
Area 18 to 64 and Over :11=
State of Washington 25.7% 61.1 % 11.2 % 35.3
Spokane County,WA 25.7% 61.9 % 12.4% 35.4
Spokane MSA,WA(1) 25.7% 61.9 % 12.4% 35.4
Spokane CCD,WA(2) 25.2 % 61.2 % 13.6% 35.5
City of Spokane Valley,WA NA NA NA NA
City of Coeur d'Alene, ID 24.9 % 60.3 % 14.8 % 34.8
City of Kennewick,WA 29.6% 60.2 % 10.2 % 32.3
City of Spokane,WA 24.8 % 61.2 % 14.0% 34.7
City of Yakima,WA 29.4% 56.6% 14.0% 31.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Spokane Metropolitan Statistical Area (1), and Spokane
Valley Census District (2) (MSA: Metropolitan Statistical Area, CCD: Census County
Division)
Income levels also reveal important recreation participation
characteristics. In general, higher income groups tend to be more
active and participate in more expensive types of recreation. Low
Park and Recreation Plan 2-5
CHAPTER 2
income groups may rely on the provision of subsidized programs or
free facilities, such as play areas, trails, and non-scheduled sports
fields.
Income levels within the region are lower than the state as a whole, but
they are higher than many of the surrounding communities. A
comparison of the 2000 household incomes is shown in Table 2.3.
Income characteristics for Spokane Valley are not available prior to
2003.
Table 2.3
Median Household Income Levels - 2000
Selected Geographic Areas
Area 2000 Household 2000 Per Capita
Income Income
State of Washington $45,776 $22,973
Spokane County,WA $37,308 $19,233
Spokane MSA,WA $37,308 $19,233
Spokane CCD,WA $35,432 $19,168
City of Spokane Valley,WA NA NA
City of Coeur d'Alene, ID $33,001 $17,454
City of Kennewick,WA $41,213 $20,152
City of Spokane,WA $32,273 $18,451
City of Yakima,WA $29,475 $15,920
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
An analysis of the labor force in the region reveals the largest class of
employment is "management, professionals and related occupations."
This employment class was followed closely by"sales and office
occupations." Table 2.4 summarizes employment classifications
around Spokane Valley and in comparable cities. Major employers in
the Spokane region are listed in Table 2.5.
2-6 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 2
Table 2.4
Employment Classification - 2000
Selected Geographic Areas
o o 0
a V C -a c rn
C V = 0 C vi i>. C F, 0 U C O 0 C
E ® Q ® -o .o " .4 c .4 p .4
L3 o al CO VW to D
0 ® ° CD v o 0 0 E 6
Q gace co cn0 u o ® OL O o - O
State of Washington 35.6% 14.9 % 25.9 % 1.6% 9.4% 12.7 %
Spokane County 33.0% 16.9 % 28.4% 0.4% 8.6% 12.7%
Spokane MSA 33.0% 16.9 % 28.4% 0.4% 8.6% 12.7 %
Spokane CCD 32.2 % 17.4% 29.1 % 0.3 % 8.2 % 12.7%
Ci of S.;okane Valle WA NA NA NA NA NA NA
City of Coeur d'Alene, ID 27.8% 19.4% 28.2 % 0.5 % 1 1.9 % 12.2 %
City of Kennewick,WA 32.4% 16.3 % 26.4% 1.5 % 10.5 % 12.9 %
City of Spokane,WA 32.4% 18.7% 28.5 % 0.4% 7.9 % 12.2 %
City of Yakima,WA 28.0% 18.2 % 23.1 % 5.7% 8.4% 16.5 %
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Table 2.5
Major Employer - 2003
Spokane Areas
Employer Number Service Area
Fairchild Air Force Base 4,969 Military
Spokane School District 81 3,147 Education
Sacred Heart Medical Center 2,950 Health care
State of Washington 2,522 Government
Empire Health Services 2,092 Health care
City of Spokane 2,083 Government
Spokane County 1,961 Government
Kaiser Aluminum &Chemical Corp. 1,628 Aluminum products
U.S. Postal Service 1,482 Government
Community Colleges of Spokane 1,458 Education
U.S. Government 1,401 Government
URM Stores, Inc 1,314 Food service
Avista Corp 1,300 Utility
Park and Recreation Plan 2-7
CHAPTER 2
An analysis of race and ethnic background in the region revealed that
the ethnic composition of Spokane Valley is largely Caucasian white.
Ethnicity is important in terms of recreation interests. Some ethnic
groups have a higher participation level in specific types of recreational
activities, which would increase the demand for certain types of
recreational facilities. A breakdown of race is listed in Table 2.6.
Table 2.6
Race - 2000
Selected Geographic Areas
c c
a a a) 4 -0
C ¢ `a
Q ® c 3
Area s s ° 0 0 2 V
Q 1 E 0
Q a� E i
a® < w Z
State of Washington 81.1 % 4.6% 5.5 % 3.2 % 1.6% 0.4%
Spokane County,WA 91.4% 0.8 % 1.9 % 1.6% 1.4% 0.2 %
Spokane MSA,WA 91.4% 0.8% 1.9 % 1.6% 1.4% 0.2 %
Spokane CCD,WA 91.0% 0.8 % 2.0% 1.6% 1.5 % 0.2 %
Ci of S+okane Valle ,WA NA NA NA NA NA NA
City of Coeur d'Alene, ID 95.8 % 0.6% 0.6% 0.2 % 0.8 % 0.1 %
City of Kennewick,WA 82.9 % 9.4% 2.1 % 1.1 % 0.9 % 0.1 %
City of Spokane,WA 89.5 % 0.9 % 2.2 % 2.1 % 1.8 % 0.2 %
City of Yakima,WA 68.8% 22.0% 1.2 % 2.0% 2.0% 0.1 %
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Note: Approximately 3%of the white category are Hispanic
Table 2.7 presents a summary of total population of Hispanic or Latino
descent. As can be seen, Spokane Valley maintains a relatively low
percentage of residents of Hispanic/Latino descent compared to other
jurisdictions.
2-8 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 2
Table 2.7
Percentage Hispanic/Latino by Jurisdiction - 2000
Selected Geographic Areas
Q.� „ Area %Hispanic or Latin
State of Washington 7.5 %
Spokane County,WA 2.8 %
Spokane MSA,WA 2.8%
Spokane CCD,WA 2.8 %
Ci of S+okane Valle,,WA NA
City of Coeur d'Alene, ID 2.7%
City of Kennewick,WA 15.5 %
City of Spokane,WA 3.0%
City of Yakima,WA 33.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
An analysis of education levels revealed a majority of the adult
residents in the Spokane area (88 percent) have a high school degree
or higher level of education (Table 2.8). Over a quarter of the
residents (24 percent) have a bachelors, or graduate degree. Overall,
the breakdown of the educational attainment would suggest a fairly
educated community.
2.4 LAND USE
Land use plays an important role in the location, distribution, and
availability of park and recreational facilities. An evaluation of land
use patterns in the Spokane Valley area helped identify the most
effective means of meeting the City's park and open space needs. For
example, residential areas need near-by, highly accessible parks to
serve the people who live in each neighborhood. Industrial areas may
need open space or natural area buffers and parks for employee use
during the day. High-density commercial areas are more likely to
require plazas and small areas for passive recreation.
Based on geographic information supplied by the City, the total land
area of the City of Spokane Valley is 24,640 acres. Only 21,405 acres
within the City are considered to be buildable. A majority of this land
is zoned for residential use (67.4 percent), industrial use (21 .8
percent), and commercial/mixed use (10.8 percent).
Park and Recreation Plan 2-9
CHAPTER 2
Table 2.8
Educational Attainment -2000
Selected Geographic Areas
a�
o _. o o m o) tn
C -6 c o
V o i
Area o $ o o N -o U '0 w TD w
6 - t 2 a2 H Q ® a
an -0 � 0o =U' ® 4 CO
State of Washington 4.3 % 8.6% 24.9 % 26.4% 8.0% 18.4% 9.3 %
Spokane County,WA 2.9 % 8.0% 26.8% 27.2 % 10.1 % 16.3 % 8.7%
Spokane MSA,WA 2.9 % 8.0% 26.8% 27.2 % 10.1 % 16.3 % 8.7%
Spokane CCD,WA 3.0% 8.2 % 26.9 % 27.0% 10.0% 16.1 % 8.7%
City of Spokane Valley, NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
WA
City of Coeur d'Alene, ID 3.9 % 10.5 % 28.9 % 28.7% 8.5 % 13.2 % 6.3 %
City of Kennewick,WA 6.6% 10.1 % 25.0% 26.1 % 10.1 % 14.7% 7.4%
City of Spokane,WA 3.1 % 8.8% 26.3 % 26.7% 9.7% 16.2 % 9.2 %
City of Yakima,WA 16.0% 14.6 % 26.6% 21.6% 5.3 % 10.1 % 5.9 %
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Since most of the developed land in the City is classified residential, the
proximity and location of parks and support facilities within
neighborhoods were important criteria to consider for park planning.
Also, the overall level of development within the City was particularly
important in terms of locating future park and recreation facilities.
The challenge in developing a comprehensive park system in Spokane
Valley is the lack of available vacant land. According to the Available
Lands Study prepared by the City of Spokane Valley, there are few
totally vacant sites. There are many partially developed sites (i.e., a
house on a 1-5 acre lot), but few parcels of 15 acres or more in size.
This land use pattern makes it difficult to acquire larger sized parcels
for park use.
2-10 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 2
2.5 HOUSING
Based on the 2000 census data, a majority of the households in the
Spokane area are 1 -unit detached households. Such residential
development is less dense than apartment complexes, mobile home
parks, etc., and would allow a larger service area for parks than more
densely populated areas.
Table 2.9
Housing Units 2000
City of Spokane Valley
I Year Spokane County Spokane MSA Spokane CCD
(%of Total) (%of Total) (%of Total)
1 Unit Detached 66.0% 66.0% 65.5 %
1 Unit Attached 2.9 % 2.9 % 2.8%
2 Units 3.6% 3.6% 4.0%
3-4 Units 3.5 % 3.5 % 3.8 %
5-9 Units 3.4% 3.5 % 4.0%
10-19 Units 4.1 % 4.1 % 4.7%
20 or More Units 9.5 % 9.5 % 11.3 %
Mobile Home 6.9 % 6.9 % 3.8%
RV,Van, etc. 0.1 % 0.1 % 0.1 %
TOTAL 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
2.6 POPULATION GROWTH
In most cities, significant population growth occurs because of new
development or the annexation of existing developed areas. Based on
the assumptions developed in Spokane Valley's draft Comprehensive
Plan, the build-out population (year 2025) is expected to reach over
148,000 people. Within the current city limits, this number is expected
to reach 107,000.
Table 2.10 shows the population projection for the City of Spokane
Valley through the year 2025, based on growth at the County rate.
Park and Recreation Plan 2-1 1
CHAPTER 2
Table 2.10
Population Projections
City of Spokane Valley
Year Spokane County Spokane Valley %of Total County II
Population 1 Population 2
2000 417,939 -- --
2003 432,000 83,950 19.4%
2010 509,327 98,976 19.4 %
2015 555,873 108,022 19.4%
2020 606,802 117,919 19.4 %
2025 657,946 148,523 22.6%
Source: Washington State Office of Financial Management
2 Source: Spokane Valley Comprehensive Plan. Note populations forecasts between
the Comprehensive Plan and the Park and Recreation Plan may vary slightly.
2-12 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 3
EXISTING PARKS AND FACILITIES
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 3.
EXISTING PARKS AND FACILITIES
The City of Spokane Valley is the one of the primary providers of park
and recreational facilities in the city. Other public and private
providers also contribute parks and open space in the area. Three
school districts (West Valley, Central Valley and East Valley) provide a
variety of athletic facilities that contribute to the diversity of facilities
available in the City.
This chapter summarizes the proposed park classification system, .9
along with key findings regarding existing parks, open space, and
recreation facilities. A complete inventory of park land and recreation
facilities in the Spokane Valley Planning Area is included in Appendices t -
B.
3.1 PARK LAND DEFINITIONS '
In order to address specific planning needs for park, open space, and
recreational areas, park classifications have been proposed. Each
park class provides a distinct type of recreational opportunity. The
ideal community park system is made up of several different types or
classifications of parks. Design guidelines for each park type is found
in Appendix D. The classification system proposed for Spokane Valley
is as follows:
• Neighborhood Parks: Neighborhood parks are designed primarily
for non-supervised, non-organized recreation activities. They are
generally small in size (about 3-7 acres) and serve people living
within approximately one-half mile of the park. Since these parks
are located within walking and bicycling distance of most users, the
activities they offer serve the entire neighborhood, including
children. Typical facilities found in a neighborhood park include:
playgrounds, picnic areas, trails, open grass areas for passive use,
outdoor basketball courts, restrooms, picnic shelters, and multi-use
open grass areas for practice field sports.
• Community Parks: A community park is planned primarily to
provide active and structured recreation opportunities for young
people and adults. Community park facilities are designed for
organized activities and sports, although individual and family
activities are also encouraged. Community parks can also provide
indoor facilities to meet a wider range of recreation interests.
Community parks serve a much larger area and offer more
facilities. As a result, they require more support facilities, such as
parking, restrooms, and covered play areas. Community parks
Park and Recreation Plan 3-1
CHAPTER 3
usually have sport fields or similar facilities as the central focus of
the park. Their service area has roughly a 1-2 mile radius.
• Large Urban Parks: Large urban parks are parks designed to serve
the entire community. Generally, they provide a wide variety of
specialized facilities, such as sports fields, indoor recreation areas,
and large picnic areas. Due to their size and facilities offered, they
require more in terms of support facilities, such as parking,
restrooms, and play areas. Large urban parks usually exceed 50
acres in size and should be designed to accommodate large
numbers of people.
• Regional Parks: Regional parks are large recreation areas
designed to serve an entire region beyond the city limits. Often
they are acquired to provide a specific and sometimes unique
recreation opportunity.
• Special Use Areas: Special use areas are sites often occupied by a
specialized recreation facility. Some uses that fall into this category
include waterfront parks, boat ramps, botanical gardens,
community gardens, single purpose sites used for a particular field
sport, or sites occupied by recreation buildings.
• Linear Parks: Linear parks are developed landscaped areas and
other lands that follow linear corridors such as rivers, creeks,
abandoned railroad rights-of-way, canals, powerlines, and other
elongated features. This type of park usually contains trails,
landscaped areas, viewpoints, and seating areas.
• Natural Open Space: Natural open space is defined as
undeveloped land primarily left in its natural form with recreation
uses as a secondary objective. It is usually owned or managed by
a governmental agency and may or may not have public access.
This type of land may include wetlands, steep hillsides, or other
similar spaces. In some cases, environmentally sensitive areas are
considered open space and can include wildlife habitats, stream
and creek corridors, or unique and/or endangered plant species.
• Undeveloped Land: This land is undeveloped and has not yet
been designated for a specific park use.
3.2 Park Land Inventory
The City of Spokane Valley is joined by the State of Washington and
Spokane County in providing park land in the planning area. This
section summarizes the parks, open space, and recreation areas
provided by these entities. The Plan recognizes that there are several
park and open space sites located just outside the Urban Growth
Park and Recreation Plan 3-2
CHAPTER 3
Boundary, such as the Dishman Hills Conservation Area. These sites
are not included in the parkland inventory shown on Table 3.1
Figure 3-1 on following page illustrates the location of the existing
parks and open space areas in the Spokane Valley Planning Area.
Key Findings
• The park system managed by Spokane Valley consists of active and
passive recreational areas. There are 5 neighborhood parks, 1
community park, 1 large urban park, 3 special use areas and 3
undeveloped sites in the park system. In total, the city owns 13
parcels representing more than 163 acres of land.
• In terms of overall design and site utilization, most of the parks
provide a balance between active use areas and general open
space. However, several of the sites are undeveloped and one
(Castle Park) is only minimally developed.
• In general, the City parks are well maintained but many of the
facilities are in need of renovation. Many playgrounds, picnic
shelters, and restrooms, while functional, are old and need to be
modernized.
• Park amenities, such as signage, picnic tables, trash receptacles,
bike racks, etc., are either deficient or in poor condition in most
City parks.
• There are a number of County and State parks sites that either
border the City or are nearby. These nearby recreation resources
are noted in Appendix B and should be recognized as contributing
to the open space character of the community.
• In total, 543 acres of parkland, open space, and recreation areas
are located inl 8 sites within the planning area. This land is
managed by the City of Spokane Valley and the State of
Washington (See Table 3.1). Spokane County manages several
sites that are located just outside the city limits.
• The current ratio of park land to the community population is 6.46
acres per 1,000 population. This ratio for Spokane Valley is low
when compared to similar communities in Oregon and
Washington.
Park and Recreation Plan 3-3
---Existing Park and Rec,,\ , izreation Resources
1
11„ . ,
o k=`R� 1k
� !rvoiiev
�' Gwth tis Orchard
i_ _ High lementary
■DNS e.weesesiev n� •ntwood El lew — City Limits
�� ••.� Elementary Elementary Neighborhood Parks
Camp Plante's:es:
••••=Pasadena Park ry
Park
Sekani ••• Elem.ntaryy
r eat n,, Community Parks
Park
• �.•• yrtle Point" Large Urban Parks
Shields Park •.•.r•'•• = Park '*:�^',Q
(Minnehaha Rocks) Orchard --, Trent • p - h• Linear Park Areas
■Avenue Elementary . o
Park .Hent Valley \ `..y Mirabeau N •. •� ,-' 1 _ Special Use Areas
ark ' •• + ``s Undeveloped Areas
g MdM ood e' ��.d P
Center DNR li./Centerpiace r Open Space
__\ Elementary r.iaa�oa a .�Illvan
Valley Mission ark Private Lands
�_ .. mtaremte eo Park '°ie., P
-Center rate so �'y•-•�-_, I DNR l Elementary Schools
"SethWoodard 'Valley Mission Middle/Junior High Schools
/ w�Elementery South summit High Schools
Arthur B Ness Elementary -� Progress
Park Road y-----\
L Centennial �Elementa BroadwayNorth Pines •Elementary
Pool Middle ry MElementary—J unior High .Greenacres Private Schools
.Junior High DNR
` r rwCITy est ValleyMiddle ■Balfour •. Existing Trails
Greenacres
Park Adorns Central Valley Elementary
Pratt
Nil
- Elementary High� •
Elementary ,m111 ■Keystone .
`41 amp Elementary A
Edgecliff,mo Caro — •
Park Lniversity Center OElpportunity
11 E16th Ave Elemementary Evergreen
■Mcnonaltl -Junior High
m. entary
t ■University
Dishman ills Elementary
Conserva y Boni,dish •Terrace Sunrise s)
,Junior H� Mew ,Elementary
South Pines Park ■
a5 Elementary
'� Brown's
Park I-2
C °� E.3zae A4eUniversity v DNR
Castle High Ches er
• DNR ParkHorizon Dem:ntarym
Junior High r
Item. a LDNR
Elementary siT Painted Hills
—\ Golf Coursei __, i
/ i
c I : :: :::
lanMorrowConseryttncyn
/ 7--- Resources Map
7
( ( \ N--, ,
City of Spokane Valley,Washington
� \v no znee September 2005
At Base data provided by City of Spokane V 1 n 00-0 uiOo-_-_o-
CHAPTER 3
Table 3.1
Summary of Parks and Facilities (All Agencies)
Spokane Valley Planning Area
Park Site Total Park Land Number of Site:
(Acres)
City of Spokane Valley Parks and Facilities
Neighborhood Parks 27.58 5
Community Parks 21.91 1
Large Urban Parks 41.91 1
Special Use Areas 20.16 3
Linear Parks 0 0
Natural Open Space 0 0
Undeveloped Land (Undesignated) 51.89 3
Total City Areas 163.45 13
State of Washington
Linear Parks 113.48 1
Natural Open Space Areas 260.94 3
Undeveloped Land (Undesignated) 5.13 1
Total State Areas 379.55 5
Total 543.00 18
Table 3.2
Summary of Current Ratios (All Agencies)
Spokane Valley Planning Area
Current Ratio
Park Land Type (Acres per 1,000 People)
Neighborhood Parks 0.33
Community Parks 0.26
Large Urban Parks 0.50
Special Use Areas 0.24
Linear Parks 1.35
Natural Open Space Areas 3.11
Undeveloped Areas 0.67
TOTAL 6.46
Park and Recreation Plan 3-6
CHAPTER 3
Table 3.3
Total Parkland Comparisons with Other Agencies
Ratio
Agency (Acres per 1,000 Pe
Spokane Valley 6.46
Spokane 18.01
Pasco 16.15
Boise 15.87
Washington 30 cities 34.27
Oregon 45 cities 15.96
Montana (6 cities) 20.61
Nevada (2 cities) 6.76
TOTAL 6.46
Source: MIG database
Park and Recreation Plan 3-7
CHAPTER 3
Table 3.4
Summary of Parks by Type (City Only)
Spokane Valley Planning Area
Park Site AcreageM—Stut
-
Neighborhood Parks
Balfour Park 2.86 Developed
Browns Park 8.03 Developed
Castle Park 2.71 Minimally Developed
Edgecliff Park 4.74 Developed
Terrace View Park 9.24 Developed
Subtotal 27.58
Community Parks
Valley Mission Park 21.91 Developed
Subtotal 21.91
Large Urban Parks
Mirabeau Point Park 41.91 Developed
Subtotal 41.91
Special Use Areas
Park Road Pool 2.00 Developed
Sullivan Park 16.07 Developed
Valley Senior Center 2.09 Developed
CenterPlace 13.60 Developed
Subtotal 33.76
Natural Open Space Areas 0.0
None
Subtotal 0.0
Linear Parks 0.0
None
Subtotal 0.0
Undeveloped Park Land
Myrtle Point Park 31.07 Undeveloped
Valley Mission Park (South) 7.22 Undeveloped
Subtotal 3•.29
Total 163.45
Park and Recreation Plan 3-8
CHAPTER 3
Table 3.5
Summary of City Parks, Open Space, and Recreation Areas
77 to
73
Park Area
• SeMcesMafrix yi
v LL ' e
®
— o °� — ° Q o Q H 0
_79mu- O LL 6 ® _ Ii *5 Q O Q ,
Q 0
0 $ Vd .c ® 7 . omW 3 it O O0 cntm O .- ., 6' N W 2 OO
OS
Neighborhood Park ----------------
Balfour Park(2.86 acres) ---- M M -- ---
Browns Park(8.03 acres) -- M M MIMIEffh ---
Castle Park(2.71 acres) ---- M=MMMMMIL --- Storage building
Edgecliff Park(4.74 ■■ •
■ ■■■ Storage building
acres
Terrace View Park(9.24 .. . . O'‘ ••• Pool,bathhouse,
acres)
horseshoe pit
Community Parl<s _---_- --_
Valley Mission Park .. . ' ••• Pool,bathhouse,
(21.91 acres)
riding arena
Large Urban Parks ========== iii
Mirabeau Point Park Stage,viewing
(41.91 acres) III 1111 platform,
trailhead
Specia0 Use Areas 1 =========== ===
Park Road Pool (2.00 ■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■ Pool,bathhouse
acres
Sullivan Park(16.07 1111 III
Dance hall,
acres)
gazebos,radio
control car area
Valley Senior Center ■■■•■■■■■■■ ■■ Reception hall
2.09 acres
Linear Park Areas ============ ===
None --M--------_MMM
Natura0 Open Space Areas =========== ===
None ------------MMM
Undeve0oped Lands =========== ===
Centerplace(13.60 •••••• •
■■■■
acres
Myrtle Point Park(31.07 ■■■■■■ ■ •
acres
Valley Mission Park ■■■■■■■ ■
South 7.22 acres
Park and Recreation Plan 3-9
CHAPTER 3
3.3 Park Site Aria lysis
BALFOUR PARK
Address: 105 N. Balfour Road
Size: 2.8 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley
Status: Developed
Existing Facilities: Parking area (35 spaces, 1 of which is accessible),
restroom building, playground area, sand volleyball court, open turf area,
site amenities (park sign, drinking fountain, 14 trash receptacles, 13 picnic
tables)
Condition: Overall, the site is in good condition
Deficiencies/Problems: Lack of street improvements (e.g., curbs,
sidewalks, street trees) along Main and Balfour Streets; deteriorating edge
restraint around playground and volleyball courts; no permanently affixed
picnic tables; no ADA access (ramp) to the playground area; parking
surfacing is showing signs of age; perimeter fencing limits access to site;
absence of typical neighborhood park facilities (e.g., internal pathways,
shelter, permanent picnic tables and sport courts for basketball) and
absence of park signage (rules and regulations).
Planned Improvements: Water playground area, new park signage
Comments: Park lies adjacent to Fire Station. Some consideration should
be given to expanding the site to the west on currently vacant land.
Park and Recreation Plan 3-10
CHAPTER 3
BROWNS PARK
Address: 3019 S. Pines Road
Size: 8.2 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley
Status: Developed
Existing Facilities: Parking area (83 spaces),softball field,restroom building,
shelter building,playground area,sand volleyball courts(4),open turf area,site
amenities(park sign,drinking fountain,7 trash receptacles, 15 picnic tables-6 of
which are permanent on concrete pad,2 barbeques)
Condition: Overall, the site is in good condition
Deficiencies/Problems: Lack of street improvements (e.g. curbs, sidewalks,
street trees) along Cherry Street;traffic and congestion associated with
parking along adjacent residential neighborhood streets; parking surfacing
is showing signs of age; picnic shelter is old and showing signs of age;
playground area is old; playground safety material is gravel; no accessible
routes to the playground area, picnic areas or restrooms; property damage
from fly balls associated with softball play; poor ball field drainage;
deteriorating edge restraint around playground and volleyball courts;
picnic tables are old and showing signs of wear; perimeter fencing limits
access to site; absence of typical neighborhood park facilities (e.g., internal
pathways and sport courts for basketball) and absence of park signage
(rules and regulations).
Planned Improvements: New park signage
Comments: The site is located across 32nd Avenue from University High School
EMEMNI
Park and Recreation Plan 3-11
CHAPTER 3
CASTLE PARK
Address: 3415 S. University Road
Size: 2.7 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley
Status: Developed (minimally)
Existing Facilities: Parking area (undetermined size), open turf area,
storage building, site amenities (3 picnic tables, 2 trash receptacles)
Condition: Overall, the site is in good condition
Deficiencies/Problems: General absence of neighborhood park facilities
(playground, picnic shelters, sports courts, pathways, etc.), drainage
problems, no permanently affixed picnic tables, parking is not clearly
defined or improved and absence of park signage (rules and regulations).
Planned Improvements: New park signage
Comments: This site provides a nice setting.
., 3
4f V
1 /
i 6
° it
k
el i low_
4 iti j 113
-
J
....a ---- - -.. -
Park and Recreation Plan 3-12
CHAPTER 3
CENTERPLACE
Address: 2426 N Discovery Place
Size: 13.6 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley
Status: Completed in September 2005
Planned Improvements: 54,000 square foot building (includes senior
center, meeting space, classrooms, auditorium, great hall, student lounge)
Comments: This site lies adjacent to Mirabeau Park, close to the
Centennial Trail and the Spokane River.
zF. , s
•
:-i.: i is M1( - . . . . * .,.- 1-7 J., '
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Park and Recreation Plan 3-13
CHAPTER 3
EDGECLIFF PARK
Address: 800 S. Park Road
Size: 4.8 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley
Status: Developed
Existing Facilities: Parking area (35 spaces), softball field, restroom
building,tennis courts (2), basketball court on tennis court, shelter building,
playground area, open turf area, storage building, site amenities (park
sign, 2 drinking fountains, 13 trash receptacles, 25 picnic tables—9 which
are on a permanent concrete pad)
Condition: Overall, the site is in good condition
Deficiencies/Problems: Lack of street improvements (e.g., curbs,
sidewalks, street trees) along 6th Street, Park Avenue and 8th Street; parking
surfacing areas showing signs of age; concrete area behind softball field is
deteriorated; restroom is old and is showing signs of age; playground
safety material is gravel; picnic shelter is old; picnic tables are showing
signs of wear;tennis courts surfacing is completely worn; fencing around
tennis courts is too low and damaged; playground area is old; no
accessible routes to the playground area; restroom building; softball fields
and tennis courts; perimeter fencing limits access to site; absence of typical
neighborhood park facilities (e.g., internal pathways and sport courts for
basketball) and absence of park signage (rules and regulations).
Planned Improvements: New park signage
Comments: This site provides a nice setting.
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Park and Recreation Plan 3-14
CHAPTER 3
MIRABEAU POINT PARK
Address: 13500 E. Mirabeau Parkway
Size: 41.9 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley
Status: Developed
Existing Facilities: Parking area (81 spaces), restroom building, shelter
building (2), stage, site amenities (park sign, 15 trash receptacles, 18
picnic tables —3 which are on a permanent concrete pad; 5 benches, bike
rack)
Mirabeau Meadows: Large shelter with utilities
Mirabeau Springs: Small shelter, viewing platform, boardwalk, pond,
waterfall, Centennial Trailhead
Condition: Overall, the site is in excellent condition
Deficiencies/Problems: None
Planned Improvements: Playground area
Comments: This is the newest the park facility developed in the City of
Spokane Valley.
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Park and Recreation Plan 3-15
CHAPTER 3
MYRTLE POINT PARK
Address: 12300 E. Upriver Drive
Size: 31.0 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley
Status: Undeveloped
Existing Facilities: None
Condition: Not applicable
Deficiencies/Problems: No vehicular access
Planned Improvements: None at this time
Comments: This site is only accessible from the Centennial Trail. It is
bordered by the Spokane River on one side and undeveloped land on the
other. The adjacent property presents an excellent opportunity to develop
a greenbelt along the Spokane River.
11!
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Park and Recreation Plan 3-16
CHAPTER 3
PARK ROAD POOL
Address: 906 N. Park Road
Size: 2.0 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley
Status: Developed
Existing Facilities: Parking area (50 spaces), restroom building, swimming
pool (25 yard x 6 lane), bathhouse, site amenities (park sign, 2 picnic
tables,trash receptacles, drinking fountain)
Condition: Overall, the site is in fair condition
Deficiencies/Problems: Parking surfacing is old and showing signs of
repair; fencing and decking is showing sign of age
Planned Improvements: New park signage
Comments: Site lies adjacent to Centennial Middle School and offers
some opportunity for expansion.
Park and Recreation Plan 3-17
CHAPTER 3
SULLIVAN PARK
Address: 1901 N. Sullivan Road
Size: 10.0 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley(portion leased to private concessionaire)
Status: Developed
Existing Facilities: Parking area (37 spaces, of which 2 are ADA
accessible), restroom building, shelter building (3), gazebo (2), playground
area, open turf area, Western Dance Hall, caretaker, radio control car
course, site amenities (park sign, 9 trash receptacles, 12 picnic tables, 3
drinking fountains, barbeque)
Condition: Overall, the site is in fair condition
Deficiencies/Problems: Lack of street improvements (e.g., curbs,
sidewalks, street trees) along Sullivan Road; lack of parking area
improvements (tree, landscaped areas, etc.); parking surfacing is showing
signs of age; site is not current connected to the city's infrastructure (e.g.,
sewer, water); no accessible routes to connect park facilities; shelters are
old and deteriorating; irrigation system is antiquated; playground is old
and lacks diversity; absence of external restroom building, internal
pathways and sport courts for basketball; lack of access to the river front;
and absence of park signage (rules and regulations).
Planned Improvements: New park signage.
Comments: This site offer river access to the Spokane River
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Park and Recreation Plan 3-18
CHAPTER 3
TERRACE VIEW PARK
Address: 13525 E. 24th Avenue
Size: 9.0 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley
Status: Developed
Existing Facilities: Parking area (100 spaces), softball field, restroom
building, playground area, open turf area, basketball court in parking lot,
horseshoe pits, swimming pool (25 yard x 6 lane), bathhouse, site
amenities (park sign, 10 trash receptacles, 31 picnic tables - 8 of which are
permanent on concrete pad, 3 drinking fountains, 3 barbeques)
Condition: Overall, the site is in fair condition
Deficiencies/Problems: Lack of street improvements (e.g., curbs,
sidewalks, street trees) along 24th and Blake Streets; parking surfacing is
showing signs of age; shelters are old and deteriorating; playground area
is old; playground safety material is gravel; no accessible routes to the
playground area, restroom, softball field; deteriorating edge restraint
around playground; absence of typical neighborhood park facilities (e.g.,
internal pathways; shelters and sport courts for basketball); pool fencing
and decking is showing sign of age;, perimeter fencing limits access to site;
and absence of park signage (rules and regulations).
Planned Improvements: New park signage
Comments: None
•
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Park and Recreation Plan 3-19
CHAPTER 3
VALLEY MISSION PARK
Address: 11123 E. Mission Avenue
Size: 17.0 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley(portion leased to private concessionaire)
Status: Developed
Existing Facilities: Parking area (225 spaces), softball field, restroom
building (2),tennis courts (2), basketball court, shelter building,
playground area, open turf area, swimming pool (25 yard x 6 lane),
bathhouse, riding arena,waterslide, site amenities (park sign, 17 trash
receptacles, 38 picnic tables - 10 of which are permanent on concrete pad,
2 drinking fountains)
Condition: Overall, the site is in fair condition
Deficiencies/Problems: Lack of street improvements (e.g., curbs,
sidewalks, street trees) along Mission Avenue and Bowdish Street, lack of
parking area improvements (tree, landscaped areas, etc.), parking
surfacing areas showing signs of age, restroom is old and is showing signs
of age, playground area is old, no accessible routes to park facilities (e.g.,
playground area, shelters, restrooms); playground safety material is gravel;
picnic shelter is old and showing signs of age; picnic tables are showing
signs of wear;, tennis courts and basketball court surfacing is completely
worn; irrigation system is antiquated, absence of internal pathways and
absence of park signage (rules and regulations).
Planned Improvements: New park signage
Comments: A new master plan should be prepared prior to any additional
public investment in this site. As part of this study,some consideration should be
given to removing the horse arena and converting it to another recreational use.
Splashdown,a private water park,is located within this park.
1.
Park and Recreation Plan 3-20
CHAPTER 3
VALLEY MISSION PARK (SOUTH)
Address: E. Mission Avenue
Size: 10.0 Acres
Ownership: City of Spokane Valley
Status: Undeveloped
Existing Facilities: None
Condition: Not applicable
Deficiencies/Problems: Not applicable
Planned Improvements: None at this time
Comments: This site lies across Mission Avenue from Valley Mission Park.
Due to its size it offers a number of opportunities for future development
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Park and Recreation Plan 3-21
CHAPTER 4
EXISTING OPERATIONS
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 4:
EXISTING OPERATIONS
This chapter reviews the existing operations and
management of the Spokane Valley Parks and
Recreation Department. The review includes an analysis
of the Department's organizational structure, staffing
levels, and operations, including the operating budget,
revenue and expenditures, and maintenance costs. The
chapter also discusses current program participation. T*
t
Key Findings =J
The following key findings emerged from the analysis of
park and recreation operations and management.
• Park and recreation services in Spokane Valley are
grouped within one department, the Parks and
Recreation Department. Within the department,
aquatics and park maintenance operations are privately
contracted.
• For its first full operating year, The City budgeted four full time
positions. With the completion of CenterPlace, this number was
increased to seven positions in 2005.
• In 2004, park and recreation services accounted for 6.2% of the
City's General Fund. For 2005, expenditures will increase to 7.1%.
For most cities studied by MIG, the average amount spent for park
and recreation services is about 10-12% of the General Fund.
• The ratio of cost to revenue for park and recreation services in
Spokane Valley is 7.6%. Based on comparisons of more than 50
cities studied by MIG, this ratio ranges from a low of 25% to a high
of 75%. The reason for the low ratio for Spokane Valley is that few
facilities or programs are offered that generate revenue.
• Spokane Valley spends approximately $5,822 per acre of
developed parkland for maintenance. Based on comparisons of
more than 50 cities studied by MIG, this amount is slightly above
average for cities east of the Cascades but low for cities on the
western side of the State.
Park and Recreation Plan 4-1
CHAPTER 4
4.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The organizational structure of the Parks and Recreation Department,
along with its position within the government of the City of Spokane
019 ik
Valley, affects the management and provision of park and recreation
services.
City Structure
: , In Spokane Valley, there are six separate departments that provide
municipal services to Spokane Valley residents: Executive and
Legislative Support, Community Development, Police, Public Works,
Operations and Administration, and Parks and Recreation. Each of
these departments reports to the City Manger/CEO, who in turn
transmits information to the Mayor and City Council and ultimately the
citizens of the community. Currently, several City services are
contracted out to private businesses or agencies. These include street
maintenance, park maintenance, and aquatic operations.
Figure 4-1 presents the organization of the City of Spokane Valley.
Parks and Recreation Department
Within the Parks and Recreation Department there are six primary
areas of responsibility: Park Administration, Parks Maintenance,
Recreation, Aquatics, Senior Services, and CenterPlace. Each of these
areas is managed and/or supervised by the Parks and Recreation
Director.
• ParkAdministration: The Park Administration division is responsible for
implementing the City Council's goals and objectives for providing park
and recreation services.
• Park Maintenance: This division is primarily responsible for monitoring the
general upkeep of parks and public areas throughout the City,consistent
with the goals and objectives set forth by the City Council. Currently, park
maintenance services are contracted with a private operator.
• Recreation: The Recreation Division is responsible for coordinating and/or
providing park and recreation services within the City. Currently, programs
include a summer day camp, indoor gym for tiny tots, free playground
programs,and limited special events.
• Aquatics: This division is responsible for the operation and maintenance of
the City's three swimming pools. The City of Spokane Valley contracted
with the YMCA to operate and maintain the three pools starting in 2005.
4-2 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 4
Spokane Valley
Citizens
City Council
City
Manager/CEO
Deputy City
Manager COO
Executive & Community Police Public Works Parks & Operations
Legislative Development RecreationAdministration
Support (Contract) Recreation
V V V
Planning, Building and Engineering, Storm water Finance,Legal and
Code Compliance and Transportation Administration
V
Park Administration, Parks
Maintenance,Aquatics,
Recreation Programs, Senior
Center and CenterPlace
Figure 4-1: City Organizational Structure
Park and Recreation Plan 4-3
CHAPTER 4
• Senior Services: The Senior Services Division is responsible for coordinating
services at the Spokane Valley Senior Center. The Senior Center programs
and services was moved from its original building to CenterPlace.
• CenterPlace: This division is responsible for the operation and
management of the CenterPlace community building.
Figure 4.2 illustrates the organization of the Parks and Recreation
Department.
Parks & Administrative
Recreation Assistant
Director(1 FTE) (1 FTE)
Park Recreation I Aquatics Senior Center CenterPlace
Maintenance IOperation Operation
V V Center Place
Contracted Contracted Coordinator
Services Services (1 FTE)
Recreation I Senior Center Admin Assistant
Coordinator Specialist (1 FTE)
(1 FTE) (1 FTE)
Maintenance
(1 FTE)
Figure 4-2: Parks and Recreation Department
Organizational Structure
4-4 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 4
4.2 STAFFING LEVELS
In order to meet the demand for park and recreation services, the City
has budgeted for a staff of seven full time positions. Table 4.1 below
shows the number of employees (full time equivalents) since the City's
incorporation in 2003.
Table 4.1
Staffing Levels since Incorporation
City of Spokane Valley
Fiscal Total City Parks and Recreation Percentage of Pa
Year (FTE's) Department and Recreation FTE t
(FTEs) Total City FTE's
2003 (1) 44.90 4.0 8.9%
2004 (2) 46.95 5.0 10.7%
2005 (3) 60.00 7.0 11.6%
111 9 Month Actual
(2) Amended Budget
(3) Budgeted
The table above illustrates a low ratio of employees for park and
recreation services. This is primarily attributed to the lack of a
developed recreation program and the fact that the City contracts out
park maintenance and aquatics operations.
Based on the 2004 amended budget, the ratio of FTE's to population is
1 employee per 16,790 population. This is up slightly from 2003
where there was 1 park and recreation employee per 20,501
population (Table 4.2).
In communities with an extensive park system and an established
recreation program, it is common to see a ratio of park and recreation
employees to population in the 5,000-7,000 range. While Spokane
Valley's ratio is much lower, the City was incorporated in 2003 and
has yet to expand is current range of services.
Park and Recreation Plan 4-5
CHAPTER 4
Table 4.2
Ratio of FTE to Population
City of Spokane Valley
Fiscal Population TOTAL
Year (Year) Employees FTE to opt; to
(FTEs)
2003 (1) 82,005 4.0 20,501
2004 (2) 83,950 5.0 16,790
2005 (3) est. 85,900 7.0 12,271
(I) 9 Month Actual
(2) Amended Budget
(3) Budgeted
4.3 OPERATIONS
Full Time, Part Time and Seasonal Employees
Staffing in Spokane Valley for fiscal year 2004 included four full-time
employees and some seasonal/hourly employees.
Many communities are increasingly utilizing seasonal employees to
meet peak demand needs and reduce operating costs. The City of
Spokane Valley utilizes seasonal employees for recreation programs
and CenterPlace operations.
City Operating Budget
Table 4.3 shows the City's General Fund budget and the budget for
parks and recreation services. Recognizing that the 2003 budget
represented a start-up budget when the City was incorporated, there is
little data available to provide a historical perspective on budgetary
items.
In 2003, park and recreation services accounted for a small fraction of
the City's overall General Fund budget. For the 2004 year, 6.2% of
the City's General Fund was allocated for park and recreation services.
For 2005, the figure is expected to increase slightly to 7.1%.
4-6 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 4
Table 4.3
Budget Allocations— 2003 - 2005
City of Spokane Valley
Year City General Fund Budget Parks and Recreation
(1)(2) Budget (1) Total
2003 (3) $13,892,900 $921,770 6.6%
2004 (4) $25,804,125 $1,601,780 6.2%
2005 (5) $27,187,186 $1,932,186 7.1%
(') Excludes Capital Outlay
(2) Excludes Debt Service
(3) 9 Month Actual
(4) Amended Budget
(5) Budgeted
Table 4.4 below illustrates the comparisons of General Fund and Park
and Recreation Fund for selected cities.
Table 4.4
General Fund and Park and Recreation
Fund
Selected Communities—2004
Agency City General Fund Parks and Recreation Percentage of
Budget (0)(2) Services Budget 0)(2) Total
Ci of S+okane Valle $25,804,125 $1,601,780 6.2%
City of Coeur d'Alene, ID $19,445,214 $1,752,575 9.0%
City of Kennewick,WA $31,200,000 $2,862,000 9.1%
City of Spokane,WA $122,107,903 $13,300,000 11.9%
City of Yakima,WA $48,335,133 $4,200,000 8.7%
(1) Excludes Capital Outlay and Debt Services
(2) Adopted Budget
In communities that offer a full range of park and recreation services,
MIG has found that the ratio of General Fund to Park and Recreation
Fund ranges from 10-12%.
Park and Recreation Plan 4-7
CHAPTER 4
When compared to other communities in the region (Table 4.4), the
total share of resources allocated to park and recreation services in
Spokane Valley (2004) is below average of the selected communities.
However, because the City is newly incorporated, it has yet to develop
a comprehensive park and recreation program.
Departmental Expenditures
Table 4.5 illustrates Departmental expenditures for each area of
service. In 2004, Administration and Park Maintenance received a
majority of the budget. This was because expenditures were attributed
to the maintenance contract for the park system and swimming pools.
In 2005 these budget items were separated to better reflect cost
centers.
Table 4.5
Park and Recreation Services Budget Breakdown
City of Spokane Valley
Division 2004 Percent of 2005 Percent
Amended Budget Tota Budgeted To
Expenditures (2) Expenditures (3)
Parks Administration(5) $215,425 11.1%
Park Maintenance {4 $980,262 61.2% $854,837 44.2%
Recreation $103,433 6.5% $158,215 8.2%
Aquatics(4) $263,074 16.4% $255,818 13.2%
Senior Center $129,371 8.1% $126,592 6.5%
CenterPlace(4) $125,640 7.8% $321,299 16.6%
TOTAL $1,601,780 100.0% $1,932,186 100.0%
(1) 9 Month Actual
(3) Amended Budget
(3) Budgeted
(4) Excludes capital outlay
(5) Prior to 2005, parks administration and maintenance were combined as one budget.
In most communities, park maintenance (excluding administration)
receives about 40%-50% of the total operating budget for park and
recreation services. Similarly, administration usually accounts for
roughly 10% and the remaining budget is divided among other
recreation programs and services.
4-8 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 4
Based on the 2005 budget information, the various divisions in
Spokane Valley appear to receive an appropriate amount relative to
the overall allocation of resources.
Department Revenues
Aside from local taxes (property tax, retails sales and use tax, excise
tax), some parks and recreation services can generate a considerable
amount of revenue through fees and charges associated with
recreation programs and facility rentals.
-
When compared to the total budget, revenues from park and
recreation services in Spokane Valley account for only 9.3% of the total
operating budget (Table 4.6). For most communities, studied by MIG,
the rate of return for services range from a low of 25%to a high of
75%. Some of the revenue sources for the various areas of service
include:
• Park Administration can generate revenue through grants and
donations. The collection of park impact fees is also another
source of revenue.
• Park Facilities can generate revenue through reservations and
facility rentals. However, at the present time, this potential is
minimal due to the lack of facilities in the existing parks.
• Recreation Programs can generate significant revenues from class
fees and services. Currently, this revenue source is very limited due
to the lack of classes offered. However, much of the cost can be
recovered through the registration fee.
• Aquatic operations generate revenue through admission fees and
swim lessons. Revenues from this operation could be increased by
adding facilities and activities that generate more usage.
• Senior Services operations generate revenues from user fees
associated with programs and services.
• CenterPlace, once fully operational, will generate revenue through
admissions, lease of space, rentals and sale of concession items.
One means of analyzing revenue production is to compare operating
costs on a per capita basis. The gross cost per capita is the total cost
of the services divided by the number of persons in the service area.
However, this is not necessarily the true cost to the taxpayer because it
does not reflect the net cost after revenue is deducted.
Park and Recreation Plan 4-9
CHAPTER 4
Since parks and recreation services in Spokane Valley generate very
little revenue, the gross and net cost of services is fairly similar.
However, in some communities, the difference can be more than
twofold due to the amount of revenue generated from fees and
charges.
Table 4.6 shows the comparison of revenue and costs for the various
service areas of the Department. Table 4.7 compares Spokane Valley
with other communities.
Table 4.6
Revenue/Expenditures 2004 &05
City of Spokane Valley
Division 2004 2004 Revenue as
Revenues(1) Expenditures(1) a Percent of
Total
Pa rks Administration
$16,625 $960,961 1.7%
Park Maintenance
Recreation $25,379 $77,332 32.8%
Aquatics $74,930 $249,547 30.0%
Senior Center $12,100 $77,726 15.6%
CenterPlace $0 $14,675 0.0%
TOTAL $129,034 $1,380,241 9.3%
(1) Amended budget
Table 4.7
Cost Per Capita —Selected Cities 2004
City of Spokane Valley
City Popukation Operating Gross Cost Net Cost Revenue
Budget' /Capita /Capita Rat
City of Spokane Vaiiey 83,950 $1,601,780 $19.08 $17.63 9.3%
City of Coeur d'Alene, ID 36,259 $1,752,575 $48.33 $44.66 7.6%
City of Kennewick,WA 58,970 $2,862,000 $48.53 NA NA
City of Spokane,WA 197,400 $13,300,000 $67.38 $49.64 26.3%
City of Yakima,WA 79,480 $4,200,000 $52.84
4-10 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 4
4.4 MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
Table 4.8 compares the cost of maintenance for selected cities.
Table 4.8
Maintenance Cost Per Acre - 2004
City of Spokane Valley
Parks Maintained Cost
City Maintenance Acres(2) Per Acre
Budget(1)
Ci of S.okane Valle 0) $649,539 111.56 $5,822
City of Coeur d'Alene, ID $841,180 156.30 $5,382
City of Kennewick,WA $1,456,000 312.00 $4,667
City of Spokane,WA(4) $7,500,000 1,035.20 $7,245
City of Yakima,WA $1,300,000 330.38 $3,935
(1) Excludes capital outlay
(2) Excludes open space and undeveloped park land
(3) Park maintenance services contract
(4) Excludes golf course maintenance
In communities throughout the
Northwest, cities spend on average �,. , A • "1
$6,000-$7000 per acre for parks .11.60.;44,-..,:
maintenance. Some Northwest cities and -
park districts spend as much as $8,000-
10,000 per acre.
Spokane Valley spends approximately
$5,822 per acre of developed parkland
for maintenance. Based on comparisons of more than 50 cities
studied by MIG, this amount is slightly above average for cities east of
the Cascades but low for cities on the western side of the State.
4.5 RECREATION PARTICIPATION
Listed below is a summary of the recreation programs and services
offered by the Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation Department.
Park and Recreation Plan 4-11
CHAPTER 4
Table 4.9
Participation in City Sponsored Recreation Programs - 2004
Program Participants Participant Hours
Recreation Division
Day Camp 258 11,610
Indoor Playground 29 580
Play Camp 14 210
Supervised Playgrounds 135 1,626
Subtotal 436 14,026
Aquatics Division
Swimming Lesson 1,012 5,060
Recreation Swim 16,083 32,166
Subtotal 17,095 37,226
Senior Center
Health Services 204 72
Lectures 142 342
Wellness 64 2,136
Arts and Crafts 132 352
Trips/Tours 481 4,192
Subtotal 1,023 7,094
TOTAL 18,556 58,346
Participant Hours represents the total hours of attendance for the class
or activity. For example, if a class is offered 3 times a week for an
hour for 10 weeks, then there are 30 participant hours per person.
Based on the statistics above, there are 0.69 participations per capita
for the City of Spokane Valley sponsored programs. Typically,
communities with an average participation level that offer a full range
of program and services have per capita participation ranging from
2.5 to 4.0. Some communities with high levels of participation have
per capita participation levels of 6.5 or higher.
4-12 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 5
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 5•
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
This chapter discusses the need for parks, facilities and •_�
other recreation services within the city. It contains a
summary of the findings from the household survey, the
public visioning workshop, focus group meetings, an earlier
city-wide telephone survey, and an organized sports
questionnaire. From this information, Table 5.1
summarizes park and facility needs. A more detailed -�. a _
analysis of the survey process and results is found in
Appendix C and the quantification of park and facility tir
needs in Discussion Paper #5 (Needs Assessment).
FIP
5.1 HOUSEHOLD RECREATION SURVEY
A survey of public attitudes, recreation interests and ',f" p'.
recreation participation characteristics was made in the City
of Spokane Valley during Winter of 2004 and Spring of
2005. Questionnaires were distributed to randomly selected
households within the City limits of Spokane Valley. Each member of
the household age 10 and over was asked to fill out a separate
questionnaire.
The survey results reflect resident opinions city-wide within a margin of
error of plus or minus 5% at a 95% confidence level. In other words, it
is 95% certain that these results should vary no more than 5% from the
results if everyone in the city had been surveyed. A total of 398 surveys
were returned.
Key findings from the recreation survey include:
• Overall, school recreation areas receive the most usage by
Spokane Valley residents with "a park near my home" as second
highest. Centennial Trail was third.
• When asked by residents who do not use Spokane Valley parks,
31%stated that they had no desire to use the facilities. "Don't
have facilities I'm interested in"was the second rated reason.
• The most common reason residents traveled outside the City of
Spokane Valley to participate in recreation activities was for
organized sports.
• Residents indicated that acquiring additional land along the
Spokane River was very important.
Park and Recreation Plan 5-1
CHAPTER 5
• When asked if more parkland was needed, slightly less than half
(46%) supported the idea.
• When asked what projects should have the highest priority, an
indoor swimming pool,the development of a city-wide trail
system and acquisition of riverfront property were cited most
often.
• Over 37% of respondents cited a multi-tank, indoor swimming
pool as the preferred option for meeting future swimming needs.
• When asked what programs should be offered, "after-school
activities for youth", and "summer youth activities" received the
most support.
• Over 81% of the respondents indicated there are not adequate
programs for the teenage youth in Spokane Valley.
• Roughly 78% of the residents indicated there is a need for before
and after school programs.
• When asked what cultural arts programs are most needed,
"performances or concerts in the parks" and "community art
festivals and special events" received the most support.
• When asked where the City should place its emphasis in park
services, the most frequently cited response was "upgrading
existing park facilities". "Acquire new parks sites and open space
areas" also received strong support.
• 72% of the respondents indicated they would support some type
of tax measure for additional park and recreation facilities.
However, this support would depend on the amount and type of
projects.
• Participation in 40 identified recreation activities by Spokane
Valley residents is roughly 58% higher than the MIG average.
• The activities with the highest latent demand (defined as activities
they would like to participate in if the facilities were more
available) were:
o Arts
o Drama (attending)
o Dancing (social)
o Arts (Painting/Sketching)
o Crafts (Pottery/Ceramics)
o Basketball
5-2 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 5
o Tennis
o Concerts (attend)
o Museums/Galleries
o Swimming in a lake or river
5.2 PUBLIC VISIONING WORKSHOP
In November, 2004, a Public Visioning Workshop was held.
Approximately 33 residents participated in the meeting, which was held
at the Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene.
The following key findings emerged from the visioning workshop:
• Vision for City: Provide a balanced and dispersed network of
parks (large and small) and trails. Integrate with other public
facilities.
• Most Needed Facilities: Participants identified a need for
indoor facilities (recreation center, aquatic center and outdoor
facilities (trails, skate parks, sport fields and river frontage).
• Improvements to Existing Parks: Improvements are needed to
existing facilities including the horse arena and more park
amenities.
• Emphasis on Park and Recreation Services: Participants felt
the Parks and Recreation Department should place an
emphasis on the acquisition of land,trail development, park
improvements and program development.
• Role of City in Programs/Services: The City should coordinate
and support existing service providers and provide additional
programs and services in areas of identified need.
5.3 FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS
Several focus group meetings were held to obtain additional input from
special interest groups. Specific groups included youth sports, adult
sports, cultural arts, SCOPE, trails/open space, seniors, Green Acres
Neighborhood, Ponderosa Neighborhood, and planning
representatives (Planning Department and Planning Commission).
The following key findings emerged from the focus group meetings:
Park and Recreation Plan 5-3
CHAPTER 5
• Vision for City: The City should offer a wide range of programs
and services. Responsibility should be shifted away from the
schools to the Parks and Recreation Department.
• Role of City in Programs/Services: The role of the City should be to
provide parks and facilities and coordinate programs and services.
• Issues: Participants noted several issues, including priority of park
and recreation services relative to other City services; partnerships;
funding for park and recreation services; land acquisition; and the
development of park impact fees.
• Needs: Identified needs included indoor facilities (community
center space, day care space) and outdoor areas (local parks, sport
fields, trails/bike lanes, pool, gardens, garden plots, equestrian
facilities, etc).
5.4 TELEPHONE SURVEY
A citywide telephone survey was conducted in the Spring of 2004. All
totaled, 409 responses were received from 3,775 attempted calls. The
survey addressed many City services, including a few questions
regarding the delivery of park and recreation services.
The following pertinent findings emerged from the citywide telephone
survey:
• New Parks: Only 14% of the respondents indicated that building
new parks was a high priority, but 42% felt that it was a medium
priority.
• Quality of Recreation Facilities: On a 5-point rating scale, 71% of
the respondents rated facilities as good, very good, or excellent.
• Proximity to Recreation Facilities: Only 59% of the respondents
indicated that there were park/recreation facilities in close proximity
to their neighborhood.
5.5 ORGANIZED SPORTS QUESTIONNAIRE
During the Fall of 2004, organized sport questionnaires were sent to
all organized sport groups providing services within Spokane Valley.
Key findings include:
• Overall, a majority of the sport groups indicated there are sufficient
fields to meet the demand of their leagues. However, field
condition in some cases is an issue.
5-4 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 5
5.6 SUMMARY OF PARK LAND NEEDS
The detailed methodology for assessing park and facility needs is
found in Discussion Paper #5. Stated below is a summary of the
findings stated in quantifiable terms. These needs are based on the
vision set forth by the community and the demand for recreation
opportunities measured in various public involvement venues.
The Needs Assessment provides the information necessary to make
informed decisions on how many acres of parks and number of
facilities are needed to meet current and future needs. However, not
all needs can be or should be provided by the City. Some community
needs can be met by other agencies, schools, the County, private
organizations and public service organizations such as the YMCA. The
community needs identified in this chapter were used to develop
recommendations for the park system presented in Chapter 7.
Methodology
Developing a statement of need for parks and open space areas
depends on localized values, availability of land, financial resources,
and desired service levels. To determine specific park land needs for
the Spokane Valley Planning Area, several analytical methods were
used. These include:
• Recreation demand (measured through public involvement
activities)
• National trends and standards
• Land availability
• Geographical deficiencies for parks and open space areas
In synthesizing this information, park land standards were developed
for each park classification. These standards are based on a ratio of
park acreage to population, expressed in terms of number of acres per
1,000 people. The standard indicates a level of service necessary to
meet the park and recreation needs of all residents in Spokane Valley.
The level of service standard developed in this Plan is based on local
conditions and does not reflect national standards. As a result, they
vary somewhat from the standards developed in the Comprehensive
Plan.
The analysis looks at the existing ratio of park land in comparison to
the city's existing population. By establishing a recommended level of
service, a demand standard can be calculated based on a model
developed by MIG. Applying the demand standard to the existing and
Park and Recreation Plan 5-5
CHAPTER 5
future population forecast, existing and future parkland needs can be
determined.
Adopted Level of Service Standards
The following level of service standards (LOS) were used to calculate
park needs:
• Mini-Parks (no LOS was established since this type of park is
not recommended.
• Neighborhood Parks —Service area of mile radius
• Community Parks —Service area of 1 mile radius
Summary of Parkland Needs
Table 5.1 summarizes existing and forecasted park land needs for the
Spokane Valley Planning Area. These needs are based on an adopted
level of service standard based on a service area, density or other
factor adopted by the City. The following terms are used in the
analysis:
• Existing ratio is the amount of existing park land divided by the existing
population. The existing ratio is expressed in terms of acres per 1,000
people.
• Proposed demand standard is the desired amount of park land based on
an adopted level of service. It is also expressed in terms of acres per
1,000 people. The standard is derived by calculating the total amount of
park land or facilities needed and divided by the build-out population of
the planning area.
• Total need (year 2005) is the number of acres needed in Spokane Valley
to meet today's needs of all City residents.
• Net need (year 2005)takes into account Spokane Valley's existing park
sites and determines if more acreage is needed to meet current
community needs. If additional parks are needed,the number of acres
and sites needed are noted in the table.
• Total need (year 2025) is the park acreage that will be needed in
Spokane Valley at build-out (the year 2025) to serve the City's future
population.
• Net need (year 2025) is the amount of park acreage that will be needed
at build-out in addition to existing sites.
Based on the analysis, there is a need for additional park land in all
categories, particularly for neighborhood and community parks.
Figures 5.1 and 5.2 illustrate the underserved areas for neighborhood
parks and community parks respectively. However, meeting park
5-6 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 5
needs in some of the neighborhoods will be difficult because of the
lack of available land. Chapter Six addresses this issue and suggests
ways those needs might be met.
Table 5.1
Summary of Park Land Needs
Spokane Valley Planning Area
Park Recreation Areas Existing Existing Proposed Total Need Net Need Total Need Net Need
Total Park Ratio(1,2) Demand Year Year 2005 Year Year 2025
Land (in �` Standard 2005 (in (in Acres) 2025 (in (in Acres)
Acres) l (2) Acres) Acres) (3)
Neighborhood Parks 27.58 0.33 1.39 116.69 89.11 177.78 150.20
Community Parks 21.91 0.26 1.74 146.07 124.16 222.55 200.64
Large Urban Parks 41.91 0.50 0.72 60.44 18.53 92.09 50.18
Special Use Areas 20.16 0.24 1.64 137.68 117.52 209.76 189.60
Linear Parks 113.48 1.35 1.36 114.18 0.70 173.94 60.46
Natural Open Space 260.94 3.11 3.21 269.48 8.54 410.56 149.62
Undeveloped Land 54.30
TOTAL 543.00 6.47 10.06 844.54 358.56 1,286.68 800.70
(1) Ratio of park land to an existing population of 83,950 persons
(2) Expressed in acres per 1,000 population
(3) Based on forecasted population of 1 27,900 persons
Park and Recreation Plan 5-7
CHAPTER 5
5.7 SUMMARY OF RECREATION FACILITY NEEDS
Similar to the discussion of park land needs, community needs for
recreation facilities such as sport fields, trails, etc., are described in
terms of an existing ratio and suggested demand standard based on
an adopted level of service.
Methodology
The need for sport fields, pools, and trails was calculated using several
analytical approaches. Methodology included an analysis of present
recreation participation levels derived from the surveys, facility needs
expressed in the public involvement processes, play and practice time
requirements for sports leagues as indicated in a sport group survey,
and mathematical models developed over the years from other studies.
To determine the need for sport fields, a demand model was created
that compared the supply of fields against the demand created by the
number of teams using them. Within this demand model, there are
many variables (or service levels) that will affect the eventual need
statement. These variables include:
• Demand variables: These include the number of teams in the
community, along with the number of games and practices
permitted per team per week.
• Supply variables: These include the number of fields, number
of games and practices permitted per field per week, and the
existence of lighted or unlighted fields. Factors such as
weather, playing season, and field constraints affect the
supply of fields.
For most sports in Spokane Valley, teams
come from both within and outside the The facility needs described
city limits. As a result, it was difficult to in this document represent a
determine the exact number of players or demand based on the
population of Spokane Valley.
teams generated within the community. However, it is recognized that
To forecast the number of teams many teams in the area are
generated by the population of Spokane formed by both resident and
Valley, MIG relied on a database of non-residents players.
team-generating data collected from 79
different communities over the years. The
assessment of need presented in this report is for Spokane Valley only,
as if the City was completely separated from other communities. In this
manner, facility needs are forecasted based on the demand created by
city residents only.
5-10 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 5
Table 5.2 summarizes the existing and future needs for recreation
facilities. These needs are based on an adopted level of service
standard previously described.
Table 5.2
Summary of Existing and Future Facility Needs
Spokane Valley Planning Area
Recreation Facility Existing Existing Proposed Total Net Need - Total Net Need -
Total Ratio(1) Demand Need Year 2005 Need Year 2025
Facilities Standard Year (3) Year (2)
(2) 2005 2025
Baseball Fields 70 (4) 1,200 1,200 70 0 91 21
Softball Fields 26 3,230 1,300 63 (5( 37 98 72
Soccer Fields 83 (6) 1,011 1,900 44 <39> 68 0
Pathways/Trails (7) 9.8 miles 0.12 miles 0.38 miles 31.6 21.8 48.6 17.0
per 1000 per 1000
people people
(1) Current number of people served per facility, based on an existing population of
83,950 persons
(2) Suggested guideline for number of people served per facility
(3) Based on forecasted 2025 population of 127,900 persons
(4) Includes 12 adult and 4 youth fields, along with 54 multi-use fields.
(5) While the need appears to be high for softball fields, many of the multi-use fields
which are in poor condition are presently being used. Also, it is anticipated that
much of the adult softball program is played at County sites and at the site in Post
Falls. As a result, the overall need presented in this table for softball fields may
not be as great as the table indicates.
(6) Includes 29 fields, along with 54 multi-use fields.
(7) Includes the Centennial Trail
Some of these multi-use fields should be considered for upgrades, and
others that are unused may be considered to address the shortage of
softball fields.
Currently the City does not have some of the recreation resources
found in many communities such as recreation centers, indoor aquatic
facilities, teen centers, arts center and a comprehensive range of
recreation programs. The development of these types of facilities and
services will generate more interest and participation in recreation
activities. In the next plan update (in 4-6 years), a new assessment
should be made to determine if the above standards are still valid.
Park and Recreation Plan 5-11
CHAPTER 6
RECOMMENDATIONS
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 6:
RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter provides recommendations for developing and
managing a park and recreation program in the City of
Spokane Valley. These recommendations were developed
from staff input, public input, a community survey, and a
comprehensive analysis of park land conditions and current
maintenance operations.
Recommendations are organized into the following sections:
Section 6.1 presents recommendations for parkland
including a summary of the planning concept that
underlies the proposed Facility Plan.
Section 6.2 presents a trails plan, along with specific
recommendations for trails, pathways, and bikeways.
Section 6.3 summarizes recommendations for administration and
management of a park and recreation program.
Section 6.4 presents preliminary recommendations for park
maintenance
Section 6.5 offers recommendations for recreation programs and
services.
6.1 PARKLAN D
Planning Concept
Spokane Valley has a park system that was inherited from Spokane
County and consists of neighborhood parks, special use areas and
larger day-use parks. However, much of the community is not served
by any public park or open space area. The following is a description
of a park system for Spokane Valley.
The ideal park system for Spokane Valley should be one made up of a
hierarchy of various park types, each offering certain types of
recreation and/or open space opportunities. Separately, each park
type may serve a primary function, but collectively, they will meet the
needs of the entire community. By recognizing this concept, Spokane
Valley can develop an efficient, cost effective, and comprehensive park
system.
Park and Recreation Plan 6-1
CHAPTER 6
The basic concept of the park system for Spokane Valley is to provide
park and open space areas within convenient walking distance of most
neighborhoods. This will be a challenge because much of the
community is already developed. To achieve this goal, the City should
seek partnerships with the school districts to provide playground and
park amenities that can be available to residents during non-school
hours. Depending upon the level of development proposed, the
concept may mean that the City should assist in funding improvements
and maintenance of the outdoor play areas. In order to achieve the
goal of a park within convenient walking distance of most residents, a
total of 12 additional parks will be needed, of which six could be
located on school playgrounds.
Because of the developed nature of the community, locating suitable
land for some of the remaining six neighborhood parks will be a
challenge. One option is to develop small mini-parks consisting of one
traditional residential lot. This type of park provides very limited
recreational opportunity (usually a small playground and an open
grass area) and caters primarily to small children. They are expensive
to maintain on a per-acre basis. The issue the City must address is
whether this type of park is more suitable than no park at all.
In addition to neighborhood parks, three community parks should be
developed to provide space for sports fields and other active uses.
The Plan also suggests that neighborhood and community parks be
supplemented with other recreational resources, such as special use
sites, linear parks, and natural open space areas.
With the City mostly developed, additional population growth will
primarily come from infill and conversion to higher density housing.
The traditional neighborhood park recommended in the plan will
provide recreation resources and open space character to a population
of 5,000-10,000 people. However, if the City chooses to permit some
neighborhoods to exceed housing densities of 15 units per acre or
more, additional parkland will be needed. Under these situations, it is
recommended in the Plan that developers provide additional recreation
resources and open space for their specific projects.
One approach to acquiring parkland and open space is to permit
reduced lot sizes and compensate with additional park space. This
concept is often utilized under the provisions of a Planned Unit
Development (PUD).
The planning concept also includes a comprehensive recreation trails
system utilizing the Centennial Trail along the Spokane River as the
backbone element. A loop trail is proposed that would encircle the
outer portions of the community. In total, it represents about 21 .5
6-2 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
miles of trail including off-street trails, on-street trails, and trails
through parks and open space areas.
The planning concept is designed, in part, to provide facilities that will
accommodate new programs and services, as the City expands its role
in providing recreation programs and services to the community.
Park Layout Plan
The Park Layout Plan is a graphic representation of the proposed park
system for Spokane Valley. Figure 6.1 illustrates the conceptual
location and routing of proposed park sites and trails, along with the
location of existing facilities. The map does not pinpoint specific
locations for future parks. Exact locations will come at a later time
when actual acquisition occurs. Some important notes about the
Facility Plan include:
1 . Each site is coded with letters and numbers (such as NP-12). The
letter represents the park type such as Neighborhood Park. The
number is for site identification only and refers to a specific
discussion in the text of the report. The letter code is as follows:
NP Neighborhood Park
CP Community Park
LU Large Urban Park
RP Regional Park
SU Special Use Area
OS Natural Open Space
T Trail
2. On the Proposed Park Layout Plan map, colored asterisks indicate
proposed parks and open space areas. The symbols show a
general location for each proposed park or recreation area. The
final location of park sites will be determined later in the
development of City plans and will be influenced by land
availability, acquisition costs, and property ownership.
3. Names for proposed sites are for reference only and have not been
approved by City staff or the City Council.
Major Park Decisions
Two decisions on park location and their function will be determined by
outside conditions not directly related to the park itself. These two
parks are discussed on the next page with the options presented later
in this section.
Park and Recreation Plan 6-3
CHAPTER 6
Valley Mission Park: The swimming pool option discussed in
Chapter 7 will dictate how this park should be developed. The
two options are:
• If the Valley Mission Pool is developed into a major
outdoor aquatic center, some or all of the existing
Valley Mission Park located on the northwest side of
Mission Avenue should be developed for additional
parking. All of the ten acre site located directly
south of Mission Avenue including the existing
parking area should then be developed into a small
community park.
• If the decision is made to make only minor
improvements to Valley Mission Pool, the existing
park site located on the northwest side of Mission
Avenue should remain as it is. The undeveloped
area on the south side of Mission Avenue should be
developed into a neighborhood park.
North Green Acres Park: Recently, the School District
purchased a ten acre site for an elementary school in this
area. Approximately five additional acres are available that
could be used for park use. The Park Layout Plan has
identified a need for both a 20 acre community park and a
five acre neighborhood park in this area. Acquiring the five
acres of parkland and combining it with a portion of the
school playground would create a small community park.
While not desirable, this may be the better option than
searching for a larger community park site.
Design Guidelines
Detailed design guidelines for each park type recommended in the
Plan are found in Appendix D.
Park and Facility Recommendations
Preliminary recommendations for park land are listed by park
classification. Both existing and proposed parks are listed by park
number (e.g., NP-1 2). Table 6.1 and 6.2 are provided to quickly
locate the page number where a specific park or open space area is
discussed.
6-4 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
Table 6.1
Index of Existing Park Recommendations
City of Spokane Valley
Site Number Location Park Name Page
Number
NP-14 Outside Orchard Avenue Park 6-11
NP-17 CL Edgecliff Park 6-11
NP-19 CL Park Road Pool 6-11
NP-22 CL Balfour Park 6-12
NP-25 CL Castle Park 6-12
NP-28 CL Browns Park 6-13
NP-29 CL Terrace View Park 6-14
LU-12 CL Mirabeau Point Park 6-18
CP-20 CL Valley Mission Park 6-18
RP-2 Outside Plantes Ferry Park 6-20
SU-5 CL Sullivan Park 6-20
SU-11 CL CenterPlace 6-21
SU-13 CL Myrtle Point Park 6-22
(1) CL Inside City Limits
Outside Outside the Urban Growth Boundary
Park and Recreation Plan 6-5
CHAPTER 6
Table 6.2
Index of Proposed Park Recommendations
City of Spokane Valley
Site Number Park Name Location(1) Page
Number
NP-1 West Valley Park NW 6-10
NP-4 Trentwood School/Park NE 6-10
NP-6 Donwood Park NE 6-10
NP-8 North Barker Park NE 6-10
NP-14 Orchard Avenue Park NW 6-10
NP-26 Chester Creek Park SW 6-13
NP-27 Painted Hills Park SE 6-13
NP-30 Keystone School/Park SE 6-15
NP-31 Summit School/Park SE 6-15
NP-32 Progress School/Park SE 6-15
NP-33 Greenacres School/Park SE 6-15
NP-34 South Barker Park SE 6-16
NP-37 32"d Avenue Park SE 6-16
CP-9 Green Acres Community Park NE 6-16
CP-16 Southwest Hills Park SW 6-18
CP-36 Shelly Lake Park SE 6-20
SU-10 Mission Avenue Trailhead NE 6-21
SU-18 Camp Caro SW 6-22
SU-21 Valley Mission South SW 6-23
SU-23 Town Center Site SW 6-24
OS-3 Progress Road Open Space NE 6-24
OS-7 Spokane River Open Space NE 6-24
0S-15 Broadway Open Space NE 6-24
OS-24 Chester Creek Open Space SW 6-24
OS-35 Shelly Lake Open Space SE 6-24
(1) Area Location divided by 184 for north-south and Pines Street for east-west
6-6 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
Mini-Parks
Currently the City does not own any mini-parks. The acquisition of
mini parks requires careful consideration. These small parks typically
have a greater maintenance cost per area, and their size limits their
recreational value. Since their size limits facilities and activities that can
be offered, they usually contain only a small children's playground.
However, in the case of the City of Spokane Valley, where parkland is
needed but larger parcels will be difficult to obtain, small mini-parks
may offer the best alternative. Before embarking on this approach, the
City should seriously consider the maintenance ramifications.
This is not to say that mini-parks should not be considered in
developments where private parties build and maintain them. In
addition, where high density projects will over-impact the capacity of a
neighborhood park, developers should be required to provide their
own park and recreation facilities.
At the current time, no recommendations are made for developing
future mini parks.
Neighborhood Parks
The Neighborhood Park should be central to the City's park system. It
should provide most of the open space and passive use within local
neighborhoods. If possible,they should be located within easy walking
distance without crossing major barriers or arterial streets.
The optimum size for neighborhood parks should be about 5 acres. In
Spokane Valley, the average size is 5.5 acres. However, in cases
where the optimum size is not available because of current
development or where land costs prohibit acquisition of large sites,
smaller parcels may be considered.
The Neighborhood Park Service Area Analysis identified in Figure 5.1 in
Chapter 5 identifies current neighborhoods that are served by a
neighborhood park. This drawing illustrates the need for additional park
land. The Plan recognizes the difficulty the City will have in meeting the goal
of a park in every neighborhood of the City. As a result,the Plan proposes a
compromise between need, and the City's ability to acquire land.
6-8 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
In some cases, the best option is for the City to partner with the school
districts and upgrade school playgrounds to offer recreational facilities
that will also serve the local neighborhood. Starting below is a
discussion on neighborhood park sites
West Valley Park (Proposed) Site NP-1
This site is proposed in the northwest segment of the city in the vicinity
of Pasadena Park Elementary School. It should be designed to serve
all of the residents north of the River. A site of 3-5 acres is proposed
and should contain the facilities typical of a neighborhood park.
Trentwood School/Park (Proposed) Site NP-4
This proposed park site is located to serve central Spokane Valley north of
Trent Avenue. Because very little undeveloped and available land exists in
this area, it is proposed that additional recreation facilities be added to the
existing Trentwood Elementary School. As an alternative, a school/park
could be developed at East Valley Middle or East Valley High School.
Improvements to the school playground should include an additional
children's playground, upgrade of the play fields and addition of a
small picnic shelter and picnic area.
Donwood Park (Proposed) Site NP-6
This proposed park site is located in the small neighborhood just north of the
Spokane River in the vicinity of Donwood Road. Because it is anticipated that
this park will serve a limited population,the size could be reduced to an area
as small as three acres and contain many of the facilities of a typical
neighborhood park.
Barker Park (Proposed) Site NP-8
This site is proposed in the general vicinity of the Barker Community
Learning Center. This site should contain all of the facilities typically
found in a neighborhood park.
Park and Recreation Plan 6-9
CHAPTER 6
Orchard Avenue Park Site NP-14
Orchard Avenue Park is a County owned site located adjacent to but
outside the City's incorporated boundary. It is located north of
Orchard Center Elementary School at the intersection of Bridgeport
and Park Avenues. The site is five acres in size and contains a
children's playground and ball field. Since it is not owned or managed
by the City, no recommendations are made for the site.
Edgecliff Park Site NP-1 7
• Replace picnic
a ' .. v ,' a tables
Color coat the
tennis courts
r 4�; `' y , • Add Basketball
i ._ , . court
Kik _ • Add pathways
LPA 's
- • Upgrade the
`t '• dugouts in the
baseball field
• Replace tennis
court fence
• Replace playground and safety surfacing
• Upgrade or replace restroom building
• Park needs better ADA access
Park Road Pool/Park (Expansion) Site NP-1 9
A park is needed in this area
to serve the neighborhood.
While some area exists within
the site to add park facilities,
it may be possible to acquire _ -1
air,ial
nearby land for park n
expansion. If this is possible, - _�.
the site should be developed _ i� 4,;
to offer typical neighborhood
park facilities.
6-10 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
Balfour Park Site NP-22
Vacant land
exists to the
west that could
be used for park
purposes.
Should this land .
be acquired, this t - --`
site could be `" I N'i . I
developed for —--.i — r .,1
many purposes. T — -
For the T ,
immediate
future, the
following
improvements
should be made:
• Replace deteriorating edge restraint around the playground and
volleyball court
• Provide an ADA access (ramp) to the playground
• Resurface the parking lot
• Add additional recreational facilities, i.e., shelter, basketball court
and signage
• Replace picnic tables
Castle Park Site NP- 25
t ,. Castle Park is a
mir 2.'m 4 . w '`r ``. '�' maintained open
e i Wim ',, space area without
A a ' recreational facilities.
irk- * -4
-'`�' To support the local
is . pp
-, t - neighborhood needs,
I F ..4. r. additional
tit , 4 . recreational facilities
should be added.
il
These improvements
+ should include:
Park and Recreation Plan 6-11
CHAPTER 6
• Provide typical neighborhood park facilities, i.e., children's
playground, small shelter, paved pathways, picnic sites, etc.
• Develop and formalize the parking areas.
• Address the drainage problems in portions of the park.
• Add signage.
• Replace picnic tables
Chester Creek Park (Proposed) Site NP-26
The Plan recommends an open space corridor that runs along
Dishman Road. A park site is proposed within this corridor that is
located west of the Painted Hills Golf Course. Because of the wetlands
in this area, the proposed park could be part of a larger open space
corridor and a trailhead for a proposed trail system.
Painted Hills Park (Proposed) Site NP-27
This park site should be located south or southeast of the Painted Hills
Golf Course. The hilly terrain in this area may only permit a small
portion of the site for park development. Based on site constraints, an
open grass area, playground and a small picnic area may be the only
suitable facilities.
Brown's Park Site NP-28
• Meet with • •
representatives
of the local
Kiwanis to •
`1.�. + ,.
determine
their interest in
upgrading the i, iR la I hi_ Hight
site.
• Replace small =
picnic shelter
with one - _-�
suitable for
large groups - ,f :�, `: "-
(150 persons
or more).
6-12 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
• Replace the playground.
• Pave area within the dugouts and replace benches.
• Upgrade volleyball court; needs edging.
• Develop large paved areas to support the picnic shelter and local
neighborhood functions.
• Replace picnic tables
Terrace View Park Site NP-29
Terrace View Park contains the typical neighborhood park facilities
including a softball field and an outdoor swimming pool. With over 100
parking spaces,there is much more parking than is needed. It is
recommended that the east bay of parking be removed and converted into
a reserved area for group picnics. Other improvements should include:
• Remove east
bay of
parking and =; - •
replace withM.
group picnic - _ � '
area. _ r {+ Y` 7A
• Add a large h
picnic shelter • * ,.J * ..
to the
proposed ,
group picnic —
area.
• Add picnic
shelters.
• Replace I
playground including safety surfacing.
• Provide ADA access to the playground.
• Add paved pathways throughout the park.
• Add a sport court for basketball and other park activities.
• Recommendations for swimming pool improvements are found in
Chapter 7.
• Consider removing some portions of the exterior fencing to provide
more direct access.
• Add park signage.
• Replace picnic tables
Park and Recreation Plan 6-13
CHAPTER 6
Keystone School/Park (Proposed) Site NP-30
This proposed school/park is intended to serve central Spokane Valley
south of Broadway Avenue. Because very little, if any undeveloped
suitable land exists in this area, it is proposed that additional recreation
facilities be added to the existing Keystone Elementary School.
Improvements to the school playground should include an additional
children's playground, upgrade of the play fields and addition of a
small picnic shelter and picnic area.
Summit School/Park (Proposed) Site NP-31
This proposed school/park is intended to serve central Spokane Valley
north of Broadway Avenue. Because very little, if any undeveloped
suitable land exists in this area, it is proposed that additional recreation
facilities be added to the existing Summit Elementary School.
Improvements to the school playground should include an additional
children's playground, upgrade of the play fields and addition of a
small picnic shelter and picnic area.
Progress School/Park (Proposed) Site NP-32
This proposed school/park is also intended to serve central Spokane
Valley south of Broadway Avenue. Because very little, if any
undeveloped suitable land exists in this area, it is proposed that
additional recreation facilities be added to the existing Progress
Elementary School. Improvements to the school playground should
include an additional children's playground, upgrade of the play fields
and addition of a small picnic shelter and picnic area.
Greenacres School/Park (Proposed) Site NP-33
This proposed school/park is intended to serve east central Spokane
Valley south of Broadway Avenue. Because very little, if any
undeveloped suitable land exists in this area, it is proposed that
additional recreation facilities be added to the existing Greenacres
Junior High School. Improvements to the school playground should
include an additional children's playground, upgrade of the play fields
and addition of a small picnic shelter and picnic area.
6-14 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
South Barker Park (Proposed) Site NP-34
This site is proposed south of Sprague Avenue in the vicinity of Barker
Road. This site should contain all of the facilities typically found in a
neighborhood park.
32nd Avenue Park (Proposed) Site NP-37
This proposed site is located in the Hills north of 32nd avenue between
Sullivan Road and the extension of Flora Road. The proposed site is
currently located outside the City Limits but within the Urban Growth
Boundary. A 40-acre parcel of Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) property exists nearby and it may be possible to locate the two
sites next to each other. This site should contain all of the facilities
typically found in a neighborhood park.
Community Parks
While the neighborhood park system is designed to provide convenient
passive recreation
areas for local
neighborhoods,
additional park sites
are needed for the - P _11i"wFwFYY -
more structured
activities such asr •
.
-
organized sports, large _ � : _ _
group gatherings, _ ' �` y;_ ► `v
outdoor concerts and F ° rte � '- `�`
other facilities that draw „� - - 3
large groups of people.
The proposed
community park system recommended in the Plan is designed to
provide these facilities that attract users from throughout the
community.
Recommendations for community parks include:
Park and Recreation Plan 6-15
CHAPTER 6
Green Acres Community Park (Proposed) Site CP-9
Currently no parks are located between the Spokane River and the
Freeway in the eastern part of the community. Acquiring a larger
multi-use community park in this area will be important for providing
sport fields and other structured activities. This could also be a park
where special recreation uses could be accommodated. This is one of
the few areas in Spokane Valley where land exists to acquire a suitable
site. Because of the overall community needs for this kind of park, a
site of 30 acres or more should be considered. The general
recommended location is in the vicinity of Mission Avenue between
Flora Road and Barker Road. Recently the School District purchased a
site for an elementary school in this general area. Two options exist for
developing a park in this area:
Option A
Develop a small community park in conjunction with the
elementary school. Maximum size of the park including the
school playground would be no more than 10 acres. This size is
less than recommended but may be more realistic than acquiring
a 30 acre site. Under this condition, recommended facilities
would include:
• 2-3 Sport fields
• Small group picnic area with shelters
• Typical neighborhood park facilities
• Large multi-use open play area
• Restroom
• Parking for 100 cars
Option B
Develop the site as a neighborhood park and acquire a large 30
acre community park in the vicinity. Potential facilities could
include:
• Sport field complex of 4-6 fields
• Large group picnic area with shelters
• Typical neighborhood park facilities
• BMX Track
• Large multi-use open play area for large group
gatherings and activities
• Restroom
• Parking for approximately 300 cars
• Special use facilities
6-16 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
Southwest Hills Park (Proposed) Site CP-16
A community park is needed to serve the southwest portion of the
community. While flat developable land is difficult to find, suitable
sites appear in the area around 15th Avenue between the extensions of
Camahan Road and David Street. If possible a suitable site should
contain enough land to develop 2-3 sport fields.
Valley Mission Park Site CP-20
Splashdown is a * r„
privately managed qj . � r it; 4 4' _
•
water park located in � .
Valley Mission Park.
Splashdown leases the •
= -
site from the City that is
in effect until 2012. It '.�
has its own entrance ;l, '
but visitors often use
the parking lot in front -- �-
of the Valley Mission
Pool. The Splashdown ,
parking lot is located
directly south across
Mission Avenue.
Two improvement options exist for Valley Mission Park and Valley
Mission Pool depending upon how the City's Valley Mission Pool will be
developed.
Option A
Option A assumes that Valley Mission Pool will be developed into a
small outdoor aquatic complex utilizing the majority of the $1 .6 million
County allocation. Because the Water Park is nearby, The City should
consider merging the operation of these two facilities together and
create one entrance.
Park and Recreation Plan 6-17
CHAPTER 6
One of the current problems with the Water park is parking. Visitors to
the park either use the parking lot in front of Valley Mission Pool or are
required to use the parking lot on the opposite side of Mission Avenue.
To reduce the amount of pedestrian crossings, it is recommended with
this option to expand the parking on the north side where the
recreation facilities now exist and develop a new park on the south side
of Mission Avenue. With this option, the following improvements are
recommended:
• Create a single entrance to Valley Mission Pool and the Water
Park.
• Expand parking to the west to accommodate the parking
needs of both the Water Park and Valley Mission Pool
• Remove the parking lot on the south side of Mission Park and
develop the entire 10 acre site into a park as described in SU
21 .
• Create a dog park between the arena and the senior center.
• Consider community gardens in the lower portion near the
arena.
• Develop a viewpoints and gazebo at the top of the slope
• Create some small intimate picnic areas below the senior
center
• Develop a paved trail that starts at the arena and ends on top
of the slope.
• Consider moving the radio controlled car club to the flat area
above the arena.
Option B
Option B assumes that Valley Mission Pool will remain as it now exists
with the $1 .6 million County allocation, equally divided between the
three pools. As a result, only minor improvements are needed to the
Park. These include:
• No improvements are needed to the park west of the parking
lot.
• Develop the improvements suggested above for the area
between the swimming pool and the arena.
• The parking lot on the south side of Mission Avenue would
remain to accommodate parking for Splashdown.
6-18 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
Shelly Lake Park (Proposed) Site CP-36
Currently a drainage corridor exists that runs from Shelly Lake up into
the hills. An open space corridor is proposed along this drainage way
that protects the wetlands areas. On the south side of the wetlands
area in the vicinity of the extension of Flora Road is a proposed
community park. Depending upon site conditions, this proposed park
should contain 3-4 sport fields, a large group picnic area and the
normal neighborhood park facilities.
Large Urban Parks
Large urban parks are park areas designed to serve the entire
community and differ primarily from community in their size.
Mirabeau Point Park Site LU-12
Mirabeau Point
Park is a new
54 acre site that
includes The
Meadows,
which is a ten
acre fully111110:
developed parks + -¢
site; Mirabeau —. —
Springs which
a waterfall,
pond, and
picnic area; and
CenterPlace
which is a new
event center. The entire Mirabeau complex is linked with paved trails
and includes an abundance of natural open space. Recommendations
include:
The Meadows
• Add children's playground
• Add a band shell to existing stage
• Add lighting to the stage and parking lot
• Develop a parking plan for large events Mirabeau Springs
• Renovate or replace boardwalk
• Construct universal playground
Park and Recreation Plan 6-19
CHAPTER 6
Natural Open Space Area
• Prepare an open space management plan
Regional Parks
Regional Parks are large day-use parks designed to serve the entire
region. There are no regional parks in the City, although Plante's
Ferry Park is located on the edge of the City limits.
Plantes Ferry Park Site RP-2
This park is owned and managed by Spokane County. While the park
has significant importance to the community, Spokane Valley has no
jurisdiction over its operation.
Special Use Areas
Special use areas typically are single-purpose areas or sites occupied
by specialized facilities. Because they can vary in character and use,
specific site requirements and facilities offered will vary.
Sullivan Park Site SU-5
While Sullivan Park meets
local neighborhood park
needs, its major focus is the
Dance Hall. Currently the
Dance Hall is leased to The
„ " Western Dance Association
who pays for its use and
maintains the facility.
Under the current
agreement, the City is also
entitled to use the facility. A
portion of the Park by the River that contains the shelter is owned by
the State. A formal agreement should be made for City use of this
property.
By written agreement, the City also provides space to a radio-
controlled car club. A discussion on these leases can be found on
page 6-39.
6-20 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
This site also provides direct access to the Spokane River. The site is
connected to the City's sanitary sewer system but potable water is
provided by a well. The City should seek to connect to a more reliable
water source. Improvements to the park itself should include:
• Add trees and landscaping to the parking lot
• Resurface the parking lot
• Add paved pathways to connect the parking lot to the facilities
• Connect to a public water source
• Replace and/or upgrade the irrigation system
• Replace the children's playground
• Construct a restroom building for park users
• Add a sport court for basketball and general public use
• Provide better access and a viewpoint to the River
• Add park signage
• Replace picnic tables and benches
• Replace the two existing picnic shelters with a large one
Mission Avenue Trailhead (Proposed) Site SU-10
An informal and undeveloped trailhead now exists at the west end of
Mission Avenue near the Spokane River. It is recommended that a site
be acquired in this location and formally developed into a trailhead.
Improvements should include:
• Parking for approximately 25 cars
• Small staging area with a small shelter and grass area
• Informational kiosk
CenterPlace Site SU-1 1
Centerplace is a new regional community center opened in the Fall of
2005. Since the site has no outdoor recreation areas, no
recommendations are made for this site.
Park and Recreation Plan 6-21
CHAPTER 6
Myrtle Point Park Site SU-13
This site is located on the south side of the Spokane River and is only
accessible from the Centennial Trail. The large rocks in this portion of
the river attract swimmers and sun-bathers who prefer a more natural
setting. An uplands area along the south bank of the river in the
vicinity of these rocks could offer a pleasant area for picnicking and
general passive use. This area has the potential to flood during high
water conditions and thus improvements should recognize this
condition.
• Develop a
master plan
for this park. i
• Search for an
access from
the south
• Consider a
boat launch "' L' '
on the south
side of the
river
117
• Clear and
grade an --
open area for
picnicking
and general passive use
• Develop a paved trail from the Centennial Trail into the site
• Construct a small restroom building if a site can be found above the
potential flood level. Note:the design should reflect the potential for
vandalism
Camp Caro (Proposed) Site SU-18
Dishman Hills is a 518 acre park site owned and managed by the
Dishman Hills Conservancy and Spokane County. Camp Caro is a small
developed portion of the site that contains a lodge, small open grass area
and playground.
The site, and particularly the lodge, is situated in a quiet and peaceful
setting that offers a relaxing respite from the development nearby.
Currently with an agreement with the County, the City of Spokane
Valley has access to the lodge for programs.
6-22 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
In exchange, the City offers Spokane County access to its sports fields.
A City sponsored summer camp was offered in summer of 2005.
Since the site is found adjacent to the City of Spokane Valley, the City
should open talks with the County to discuss other possible
partnerships.
Valley Mission Park—South (Proposed) Site SU-21
This existing site
located across the
street from Mission
Park, has been used
as overflow parking
for the Water Park in
the past. This hascaused safety
concerns because of
pedestrians crossing
Mission Avenue.
Development of this
site is dependent •-� -- �_ �
upon the — -
development of
Valley Mission Park to the north (Site CP-20. Under Option A of Valley
Mission Park (North), the existing parking on Valley Mission Park South
would be removed. With Option B, the parking lot would remain.
Option A
• Add one softball field, 1 baseball field and 2-3 soccer fields
• Develop a group picnic area with two shelters
• Add a skate park (Note: If the Senior Center is converted to a
teen center, the skate park should be located next to it
• Construct a restroom building
• Develop a large children's playground
• Develop a small community center building
• Add parking for approximately 100 cars
Option B
• Develop a small children's playground
• Develop a multi-purpose soccer baseball field
• Create an multi-use open play area
• Develop approximately 10 picnic sites
• Construct a small picnic shelter
Park and Recreation Plan 6-23
CHAPTER 6
• Add parking for approximately 25 cars
Town Center Site (Proposed) Site SU-23
An indoor aquatic center and recreation center is recommended to be
included within the proposed Town Center site. See the discussion on
aquatic facilities (in Chapter 7) and the recreation center (page 6-26).
Natural Open Space Areas
- }� While natural open space
"- � �& .. �' _ opportunities are somewhat
1." 4; $ 4, limited in the City, some
* 'a ,C I opportunities still exist. The
'' N11,111# 4,' "'-'41' - " Spokane River corridor offers
4 . �;+1 _ _y aim! t - the greatest opportunity
5 although minor drainage
1 - I — corridors exist.
jalopill
5
rri •£ ' '...;;OL.:: -'' ; i' The extent of development in
�k,,..if= ` v -- -„`-- the open space areas should
. .r - - -'- '`- - ” be limited to trails and
trailheads. The City should assume responsibility of these areas with
management to include reducing fire hazards, control of invasive
vegetation, and removal of safety hazards. When the City has
acquired several open space sites, an open space management plan
should be developed.
Recommended open space sites include:
Table 6.3
Recommended Open Space Sites
Spokane Valley Planning Area
Site# Name Comments
0S-3 Progress Road Open Currently a wetlands area
Space
OS-7 Spokane River Open Located on the south side of the Spokane
Space River
OS-15 Broadway Open
Space
OS-24 Chester Creek Open A small drainage corridor with several
Space small ponds
OS-35 Shelly Lake Open Located from Shelly Lake up into the hills
Space to the south
6-24 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
Specialized Facilities
Aquatic Facilities
See Chapter 7 for a discussion on swimming needs and
recommendations.
Water Playgrounds
The Plan
cement of water recommends
pl playgrounds in "ry`= �'
p p ayg Yg t
some or all of the existing city-
owned outdoor pools. In addition, fit
the City should consider
developing several small self-
administered water playgrounds. '71
•
Suggested sites are the proposed, ,
community park (site CP-9) located . x
in the North Green Acres
Neighborhood; just south of the Spokane River; the proposed
neighborhood park (site NP-34) located in the easterly portion of the
city south of Sprague Avenue; and Balfour Park, if it can be expanded
(site NP-22)).
Youth Activity Center
The recreation survey and the workshop meeting indicated interest in
providing more services for the youth. While some youth services will
be provided in the new CenterPlace facility, MIG has found that the
youth prefer their own facility away from adults.
A potential site is the old senior center. The senior activities were
recently moved to CenterPlace. While the old building is larger than
needed for youth activities, the upper floor would be ideal for the
youth. The lower level, which shows signs of significant settling, could
then be used for storage. If youth activities can be accommodated
within this building, a skatepark on the site should be considered.
If the entire building is condemned and removed, a new youth activity
center should be built on the site.
Park and Recreation Plan 6-25
CHAPTER 6
Indoor Recreation Center
In the long term, the City should consider developing an indoor
recreation center. Currently the City does not offer indoor sport
activities such as basketball and volleyball. These sports are conducted
in the schools through the private youth sport organizations. Adult
indoor sports are offered by the City of Spokane and by a private club.
While the City does not offer sport or other indoor recreation
programs, this is an activity that the City should consider in the future.
While access to school facilities is often available, MIG has found that
City-sponsored programs are often bumped from the school's schedule
at the last minute. This tendency makes it difficult to manage a
program.
CenterPlace will provide space for meetings and large group
gatherings but is not ideally suited for the more active uses. The YMCA
is the primary facility in the community that provides space for
gymnasium activities, health and fitness programs, swimming and
other active activities. Because of the above conditions, it is
recommended the City examine the feasibility of developing a new
multi-purpose indoor recreation center. The ideal location would be
within the proposed Town Center (site SU-23). The proposed
recreation center could help support the Town Center concept and be
located within a retail and high density residential area. This location
would also provide convenient indoor recreation space in the southern
portion of the City.
Recommended spaces and facilities for a recreation center in Spokane
Valley include:
• Indoor 25 yard (American Short Course) swimming pool and water
park
• Gymnasium space for basketball, volleyball and other similar
activities and organized sports
• Fitness space (exercise/aerobics areas and weight training rooms)
• Small meeting rooms and classrooms
• Specialized activity areas
6-26 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
Public Restrooms
Public restrooms in parks are expensive to construct and maintain, yet
they provide a convenience to the park user. Currently, there are no
policies in place as to where and which type of park restrooms should
be developed. Most of the larger neighborhood parks in Spokane
Valley contain restrooms, although they are old and need upgraded.
There are several options the City could take in meeting restroom
needs:
• Provide no new restrooms in any of the parks.
• Provide a full-service restroom in only the larger, heavily used
parks.
• Provide a full-service restroom in most city parks.
• Provide seasonal and portable restrooms in most of the parks.
In terms of type of restrooms, several options are available:
IN{
•
The typical restroom with
one gender located on
each side of the building.
• Single occupancy unit
contained within a
building of 4-8 units. ,y 104
`M 'k
• Porta Potties. If these
were to be provided, they
should be enclosed .00
within a permanent shell.
Based on the above options, the following policies are recommended:
• Provide permanent restrooms in all community parks.
• Provide permanent or portable restrooms in neighborhood parks of
high use.
• Provide permanent restrooms in specialized parks where high use
is expected.
• Discourage restrooms of any type in remote sites, small parks or
linear parks.
• Restrooms should be of the single occupancy unit type
Park and Recreation Plan 6-27
CHAPTER 6
Sports Fields
The need for sport fields in Spokane Valley is not great at this time
because the City of Spokane, Spokane County, and a private sports
complex is meeting the need for most types of sport fields in the
region. However, as the community grows, there will be a greater
need for additional sport fields. This is noted in Table 5.2 on page 5-
11 .
Youth sports utilize school
fields and private sport
groups and the YMCA
manage youth sports. -
The following
recommendations and
policies are recommended for
the development and
management of sports fields:
General Role and
Responsibilities
• The City and schools should be the provider of sport fields.
The City should develop the quality fields suitable for games
and tournaments and school fields should be primarily used
for practice.
• The City should not become involved in managing sport
programs except for the offering of sport camps and
introductory level play instruction.
• The City in conjunction with the sport groups should
schedule field use including those on school playgrounds.
Field Development
• The City should work with partner agencies, especially
schools, to help meet demand for indoor and outdoor
sports facilities. Develop and maintain inventories and
evaluations of shared sports facilities.
• The City should construct sport fields in all of the proposed
community parks. Develop fields for multi-use.
• The City should assess existing and proposed sites for the
feasibility of developing additional sports fields,
6-28 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
particularly adult softball fields, youth baseball/softball fields,
and adult and youth soccer fields.
Management and Operations
• Consider a 3-tier maintenance schedule for sport fields with
tournament fields receiving the highest level of maintenance
and practice fields receiving the lowest level of
maintenance.
• Create a field scheduling committee to maintain the most
efficient use of fields. This committee should be headed by
City staff, but include representatives of the user groups and
school officials. The procedure for scheduling should follow
the methodology created in the Needs Assessment.
• To maintain the fields for quality playing conditions, a rest
and rotation schedule should be developed and followed.
BMX Track
The Needs Assessment revealed some interest in a bicycle (BMX) track.
If an organized group expresses interest in this type of facility, the City
should provide the space but require the group to develop and
maintain it. Potential sites include any of the proposed community
parks
Valley Mission Horse Arena
The Valley Mission Horse Area consists of a riding arena and a number
of covered stalls. Currently the stalls and the arena are only in
marginal condition. Several riding groups rent the site about 11 times
a year. Currently the two primary issues with the site are: who should
pay for the repairs and how it should be managed.
The following policies are recommended for this site:
• User fees should be increased to reflect the cost of maintenance
and custodial needs. (The A-frame building and the stalls need
major improvements).
• A surcharge should be initiated with the user groups. The
funds should be dedicated to improvements to the facility.
Park and Recreation Plan 6-29
CHAPTER 6
Radio Controlled Car Track
Currently the Spokane Radio Control Car Club has a temporary
agreement with the City for a site in Sullivan Park to operate their track.
While the site is managed and maintained by the Club, its condition
and appearance is substandard. Recommended policies for this facility
are as follows:
• A formal lease should be developed with the provisions
identified below.
• Site improvements should be made based on a plan approved
by the City.
• The site should be open and made available to the general
public.
• Camping may occur for special events based on the policies
described in "Camping in Parks" on page 6-38.
Western Dance Hall
The Western Dance Hall is located in Sullivan Park and is leased to the
Western Dance Association. The Association maintains the facility.
Under the current agreement, the City is also entitled to use the facility.
It is recommended that as long as the two above conditions are met
the use should continue.
6.2 TRAILS, PATHWAYS, AND BIKEWAYS
Trail Linkage Concept
The proposed trail system described
below is primarily an off-street ,`
recreation trails system although it
will also serve as a mode of
transportation throughout the
community and to regions beyond.
A major community system of
pathways is proposed to provide
linkages between parks, community .4 _
facilities, residential areas, schools, and open space areas. The system
utilizes the Centennial Trail as its centerpiece.
6-30 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
From this segment, a loop trail system encircles the entire community
utilizing park and open space areas, and streets where no public land
exists. Since much of the community is developed, an aggressive
approach will be needed to connect individual segments.
In the public workshop, the community expressed a preference for off-
street, paved pathways for pedestrian and bicycle use. However,
where trail segments cannot pass through public land, it may be
necessary to construct on-street bike lanes to complete specific
segments. It also will be necessary to coordinate with adjoining cities
and the County to make connections to their trail systems.
Potential Trail Types
The purpose of the proposed trails plan is to connect residential areas
with parks, open space and other recreational areas. The proposed
plan identifies conceptual routes for pathways and trails. A more
specific trails plan will be needed later to locate specific routes and
design requirements.
Paths within Public Street Rights-of-Way
These are the easiest to build because they are located within the
public street rights-of-way. These paths include three types:
• Sidewalks and on-street bicycle lanes: Pedestrian/bicycle ways
within public street rights-of-way are typically sidewalks and on-
street bicycle lanes. All new streets must have sidewalks and all
new major streets must have bicycle lanes.
• Paths within street rights-of-way but separated: Paths that are
within street rights-of-way but separated by a curb or painted line
have two major concerns: (1) the bicycle rider or pedestrian is not
safely separated from automobile traffic, and (2) these pathways
require a much wider right-of-way. The separated paths are also
undesirable because they are not perceived as a sidewalk, yet they
cross many driveway and street intersections. These paths require
very detailed design for even minimal safety. Pathways that are
along a continuous road or street can be safer since there are few
crossings. These routes are ideal within linear parkways. However,
they are unsafe for cyclists because they do not have suitable
locations to enter or exit from the street without causing the cyclist
to ride against traffic. Additional on-street bicycle lanes are
needed when a path abuts a major street to avoid conflicts between
walkers and faster cyclists. This results in the need for a very wide
right-of-way that can be nearly impossible to acquire in a
developed area. A separated path along a street,
Park and Recreation Plan 6-31
CHAPTER 6
if necessary, can be accommodated more easily in undeveloped areas
and would have to be coordinated very closely with street design
engineers.
• Accessways: Accessways are short public paths that serve as
connections for non-vehicular travel. Accessways are sometimes
used to connect a cul-de-sac with an adjoining street or where
there are overly long blocks. They are also useful to provide access
to parks and schools if they do not abut a street.
Paths Outside a Street Rights-of-Way
Rights-of-ways for paths that are not within streets are very difficult to
acquire unless done at the time of initial land planning and
development. Property owners are usually reluctant to grant or sell
easements of land and often object to the public near their property if
not on a street. These issues can be reduced if a detailed trail plan is
adopted prior to any development. Studies have shown that properties
near paths and trails have higher values. Paths should not be crossed
frequently by at-grade intersections, so the best locations are along
linear features that have few access points or crossings such as creeks,
freeways, airports, railroads, etc.
Since most of Spokane Valley is developed, obtaining significant
portions of trail segments of this type will be difficult to acquire.
Paths in Open Space Corridors
Pathways within open space corridors are ideal because in addition to
a transportation route, they provide a passive and peaceful setting. At
the same time, most of the proposed open space sites recommended
in the Plan contain wetlands or have other environmentally sensitive
conditions. Specific design approaches need to be addressed under
these conditions.
Trails Plan
Figure 6.2 illustrates the proposed Trails Plan, including existing trails
and conceptual routes for proposed multi-use pathways, planned
sidewalks, and planned bicycle lanes. Note that bike lanes not only
provide connections where off-street pathways are not possible, but
they also support commuter bicycle travel.
Table 6.4 lists the proposed trails/pathways that are noted in the Trails
Plan. Each trail should be assessed for its suitability as part of the
overall trail system.
6-32 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
Table 6.4
Proposed Trail System
City of Spokane Valley
# Name engf Comments
11.2
Trail is existing and managed
T-1 Spokane River Centennial Trail by a consortium of public and
miles
private organizations
This is an abandoned rail line.
T-2 Burlington Northern Trail 2.9 miles It is unclear whether this is
owned by the City or County
T-3 Spokane Loop- Eastern Segment 5.1 miles Begins at the BN Trail and
travels south to Sullivan Road
An east-west segment that
Spokane Loop—Southern starts at Sullivan Road and
T-4 3.3 miles
Segment ends at Dishman Road. Route
generally follows 32"d avenue
A northerly segment that lies
within the proposed Chester
Spokane Loop—Southwestern Creek Open Space corridor;
T-5 Segment 3.2 miles then turn westerly through
Camp Caro ending at Park
Road.
A north-south segment that lies
mostly within Park Road. Trail
eventually turns east to connect
T-6 Spokane Loop—Western Segment 3.5 miles to Argonne Road where it
crosses the River and connects
to the Spokane River
Centennial Trail
A segment connecting the
T-7 Chester Creek Connection 1.1 miles Spokane Loop at 32"d Avenue
with Chester Creek Park(Site
NP26)
A segment that begins at the
Myrtle Point Park Trailhead
T-8 Spokane River Trail Extension 1.0 mile and travels along the north
bank of the Spokane River to
Plantes Ferry Park
Park and Recreation Plan 6-33
CHAPTER 6
6.3 ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
With the City of Spokane Valley becoming an instant city of 84,000
people, the Parks and Recreation Department has been challenged to
develop policies and procedures and establish its role in providing
park and recreation services. The following recommendations are for
administering a program of leisure services.
Management and Services
• Consider the financial impact of offering park and recreation
services: The major factors that determine the efficiency of a park
and recreation program are 1 (the ability to generate revenue from
services rendered and 2) the cost to maintain facilities. While good
design can help reduce operating costs, the greater impact usually
comes from facilities and activities that generate revenue. The
chart below illustrates the potential revenue from three basic types
of leisure services:
Parks Only 5%
Programs Only 90%
Major Facilities 50%
Financial Return Ratio for Services
Figure 6.3 on the next page illustrates the overall cost impacts of
offering various levels of leisure services. Starting at the basic level
of maintaining parks only (Level 1), very little revenue, if any, is
created. At Level 5, which offers a comprehensive recreation
program, revenue is created to help offset the operating cost. As a
result, the net cost to the City is minimal. For example, the City of
Edmonds has a revenue rate for the entire Parks and Recreation
Department of 60%. This means that for every dollar budgeted, it
only costs the City approximately $0.40.
The question for Spokane Valley is: where does the City see itself in
the future in terms of offering park and recreation services?
Currently, the City is at a level 1 . While the operating budget may
be higher at Level 4 than at Level 1, the net financial cost to the
taxpayer may be nearly the same. This means that if the City were
to raise recreation services to a level 4, the net cost may not be any
more than what is now being spent. With this in mind, there are
four basic approaches Spokane Valley could take in providing a
leisure services program:
6-34 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
OPTIONS FOR A LEISURE SERVICES PROGRAM
1. Maintain the current level of park development.
2. Develop a more elaborate system of parks, trails and
other recreational facilities.
3. Downgrade the importance of parks and place the
emphasis on recreation programs.
4. Provide a balance between parks and recreation
programs.
RECREATION SERVICE COST MODEL
COST OF Cost of Service
SERVICE
4 5
3 Major and Programs Offered
Limited Recreation Programs
Expanded Park System
1
Additional Personnel
Limited Park Development
LEVEL OF
SERVICEE
Figure 6.3 Comparison of Cost of Service to Level of Service
• Recommended roles and responsibilities: Prior to incorporation,
Spokane County was the primary provider of parkland and adult
sports in the City. Youth sports were and continue to be offered and
managed by private sport groups and the YMCA. A private club in
the community provides space for additional indoor sports,
Park and Recreation Plan 6-35
CHAPTER 6
although schools continue to be the primary provider of
gymnasiums for youth sports.
Currently the City of Spokane Valley has assumed ownership and
maintenance responsibilities for most of the parks in the City. The
City now offers a limited summer program.
In the long term, the Parks and Recreation Department should
establish a more dominant role in park and recreation services in
the community. In general, the City's role should include:
• Be responsible for assessing park and recreation needs in
the community, and help coordinate service delivery efforts
with the various organizations.
• Develop a quality park system.
• Provide a level of recreation programs and services that
meets needs not filled by other leisure service providers.
• Create an identity and improve visibility: In the past, the Parks and
Recreation Department has had a very low profile because the
Department offered few programs to the public and Spokane
County maintained the parks. The Department should make an
effort to become more visible and prominent in the community.
This in turn will create a following of supporters for park and
recreation services. Some of the actions the Department should
take are:
• Offer special events that attract large numbers of
participants and promote City services.
• Offer recreation programs to both youth and adults.
• Publish articles in the City newsletter and other forums
promoting the benefits of park and recreation.
• Advertise special events and programs in the media
• Offer sustained, year round programs
• Create a Park and Recreation Advisory Committee: Currently the
City Council acts on all park and recreation issues. Over time and
as the City grows in responsibility, the Council will find it more
difficult to devote adequate time to these issues. At that time a
parks and recreation advisory board should be created to develop
advisory policies related to park and recreation services, assess
park and recreation needs, and generally provide a forum for
public input.
• Promote park and recreation services: To help promote the park
and recreation program and make the Department more visible,
6-36 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
promotional and informational brochures should be developed. In
addition, Department staff should make presentations to
neighborhood and service groups, display information at
community events, host special programs and informational events.
• Encourage volunteerism: Volunteers can not only provide much
needed assistance but involve the public in programs as well.
Potential volunteer projects could include:
• Assist in administrative duties.
• Conduct maintenance tasks.
• Assist in special events.
• Assist in recreation programs.
• Offer internships to college students
• Prepare a marketing plan: To efficiently offer services, the
Department should develop a marketing plan that describes how
services will be provided and how the services will be marketed.
• Form partnerships: The City cannot and should not provide all of
the park and recreation services needed in the community. As a
result, it should seek partnerships with other providers to help meet
the needs and distribute the responsibilities and costs.
• Offer staff training: To help manage a park and recreation
program more efficiently, staff should be encouraged to attend
special training classes, schools and other technical seminars.
• Camping in parks: When large multi-day events are held in a park
(the riding arena is an example), participants often camp on the
site. While this is a convenience to the participant, none of the
parks in Spokane Valley are designed to accommodate campers.
The problem can become acute when trash is left on the site or
campers abuse the privilege by staying extended periods of time.
Because of these problems, it is recommended that the City initiate
the following policy related to camping in parks.
Park and Recreation Plan 6-37
CHAPTER 6
Camping will only be permitted in a City park when a special event
is being held. A camping permit will be required of the event
sponsor and can only be given under the following conditions:
• Adequate restroom facilities must be available. If it is found
that the facilities are inadequate, the event sponsor will
provide portable restroom facilities.
• The camping area will be limited to a small area so to not
disrupt other park users.
• Camping will only be permitted during the event and one
day prior to the event.
• Campers not associated with the event will not be permitted
• The Parks and Recreation Director will make final decisions
on issuing a camping permit.
• A camping fee should be imposed to cover the cost of
cleanup and other expenses.
* Park Facility leases: Currently three private user groups lease
space at city parks. This includes the radio car club and the
Western Dance Association at Sullivan Park and Splashdown at
Valley Mission Park. Leases assure access by private groups to a
specialized facility. This is particularly important if the private
group has spent substantial money to develop the facility. On the
other hand, park facilities should be made available to all
residents. Sometimes, leaseholders tend to assume that their
facility is only available to their members. Based on this
background, it is recommended that the following policy apply:
6'38 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
Private user groups may lease park property under the following
conditions:
• The use will meet a recreation need that is not provided
by the City.
• The use should be a suitable recreation use.
• The use will not impact the enjoyment and use of the
park or nearby property owners,
• The user group must pay for the construction,
management and maintenance of the facility.
• The general public will have access to the facility except
when the user group is hosting a special event.
• The user group maintains the facility in a well kept
appearance comparable to the rest of the park.
• The user group will post a deposit or some other means
of assuring that the facility will be removed and
replaced to the original condition when the facility is no
longer in use.
• The City may charge a fee for the lease.
Financial Resources/Funding
• Consider Park Dedication Requirements: Conceptually dedication
can be required to meet the needs of the community that are
attributable to new development. Dedication is not limited to the
dedication of land, but may also provide for money in lieu of land
or some combination of land and money. Where private
recreational facilities are provided, a system of credits can be
considered. While popular in most Washington cities, the City of
Spokane Valley does not currently collect these fees. The issue is,
"Who should pay for park improvements; the residents who already
live in the community or the new residents moving into the
community?" The City should consider collecting this type of fee to
help pay for the cost of expanding the park system.
• Seek grants: Adoption of the Park and Recreation Plan will make
the City eligible for State and Federal park and recreation grants.
The City should actively seek grants to help leverage local
contributions.
• Create a foundation: The City should create a foundation for
donations of park and recreation facilities.
Park and Recreation Plan 6-39
CHAPTER 6
6.4 MAINTENANCE
• Maintenance Management: Until recently, M
parks in Spokane Valley were maintained by11111111111 •
Spokane County under a contract with the _,
City. Recently, The City issued a contract to a
private contractor to maintain the park system.
While contracting out park maintenance
services may be a more efficient means of
maintaining parks and eliminates the cost of
purchasing equipment, there are other issues
that should be considered. Some of these
issues are:
• Contracting out maintenance still
requires some staff administrative time
to check on the work being performed.
• It is hard to forecast time requirements and address
emergency maintenance requirements
• Park maintenance personnel will be in more contact with
the public than anyone else in the City. Their actions and
relationships will reflect on the City.
On the positive side of contracting, it eliminates the front-end costs
of financing an extensive equipment inventory. Also, contract labor
costs are usually less than that of a city.
In the future, the Department should conduct a cost/benefit analysis
to determine the most appropriate way to maintain parks in
Spokane Valley.
• Maintenance Funding: The City should establish a maintenance-
funding goal calculated on a per-acre basis and define minimum
maintenance service levels.
Integrated Pest Management Plan: The Department should
develop an integrated pest management plan to define use of
herbicides and pesticides in parks and open space areas.
• Deferred Maintenance and Long-term Maintenance Requirements:
Deferred maintenance is a common and continual problem for
park operations. The Department should continue an assessment
of replacement and upgrade needs for all parks and facilities.
6-40 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
Once completed, an annual budget should be prepared for addressing
the deferred maintenance issue including irrigation and drainage, tree
pruning, dead tree removal, pathway repair and overlays, restroom
repairs, landscaping, and other deferred maintenance items.
6.5 RECREATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
427-71' J Currently, the Department offers a
limited recreation program. Many of
Ythe special interest groups in the
' '1. ti , community are satisfied with
`. managing their own programs and
3i,„
do not want the City involved.
However, in the long term, the
s p Department should consider
i , expanding its range of recreation
programs and services. In the short
term, the Department should be conservative in its approach and build
a program based on past experiences. Some of the roles the City
should assume are:
• Program Coordination: While recreation programs and classes
should be delivered by a number of agencies in the community,
Spokane Valley should serve as the overall coordinator to assure
that community needs are met. This could be done by creating a
city-wide task force representing the various recreation providers
and interest groups. The City's role should be to help establish this
group and provide administrative support.
• Short Term Recreation Programs: The City should offer recreation
programs and classes in the following areas:
• Aquatics
• Summer playground programs
• Senior programs
• Youth programs
• Special events (limited)
• Cost Recovery: For the Recreation Program in general, the Parks
and Recreation Department should seek a 100% cost recovery
target based on direct costs only.
Park and Recreation Plan 6-41
CHAPTER 6
• Long Term Recreation Program: As the recreation program is
established, the City should consider expanding the program to
include:
• Instructional classes
• Special interest programs
• Outdoor/interpretive programs
• Special events (expanded)
• Limited indoor adult sports
• Senior Age Programs: The City of Spokane Valley is responsible
for the space used for senior programs, but the Spokane Valley
Senior Citizens Association offers specific programs from 8 AM to 4
PM Monday through Friday. The specific terms of this arrangement
are spelled out in a written agreement. With the move of the senior
program to CenterPlace, additional senior programs and services
should be considered. Some of the programs and services to
consider are:
• Additional active recreation programs and activities such as
aerobics, health and fitness and senior competitive sports.
• Intergenerational activities and programs in addition to the
more traditional age-group oriented programming.
• Provide more special interest classes.
• Youth Programs: The Plan recommends that the existing senior
center building be converted to a youth activity center. If the
building is found to be unsuitable, a new youth activity center
should be built on the site. With that move, a youth and teen
program should be initiated. Two options for managing youth
programs are possible: the first would be to partner with the Boys
and Girls Club to manage a program. This has the advantage that
this agency has the experience and would not require involvement
of the City. The second option is for the City to run a youth
program. If this were to occur, some of the programs should
include:
• Drop in program for the youth to just "hang out"
• Special interest programs and classes
• Life skill classes
• Limited recreation level sports
• Tours and field trips
• Job skill classes
6-42 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 6
The City could pattern its program after the Boys and Girls Club
model as well as other youth programs.
• Arts and culture: The survey revealed a significant latent
demand for arts, drama and dancing. The City has initiated a
step in this direction by providing a stage in the Great Room,
and an auditorium at CenterPlace. In addition, many of the
classrooms can be made available for art classes. The City has
also constructed an outdoor stage in Mirabeau Point Park. In
the future, the City's role in cultural arts could include:
• Provide space for cultural arts activities such as art in park,
theatre concerts, and art shows
• Provide small grants to cultural oriented organizations for
special events, classes and other activities.
• Assist the Arts Council in grant applications and other
administrative tasks.
• Partner with other local or regional art providers
• Compile an artist/instructor resource list
6.6 RIVERFRONT ACCESS
The Spokane River offers a unique recreation resource to the City.
While some public land exists along the River, attempts should be
made to acquire additional property as it becomes available. Barker
Bridge is an example of a potential site that could offer a boating
access point.
Park and Recreation Plan 6-43
CHAPTER 7
AQUATIC FACILITIES
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 7:
AQUATIC FACILITIES
This chapter analyzes the need for indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities
in Spokane Valley and addresses how these needs might be met.
Currently, the City owns and manages three American Short Course
pools (6-lane, 25-yard tank dimension). A recent evaluation of these
three pools by the ORB Organization revealed some minor .
deficiencies. However, overall, they are in good operating condition. ? . l'
7.1 CURRENT SWIMMING OPPORTUNITIES •
Table 7.1 notes the five existing aquatic facilities in the City of Spokane
Valley:
iv
Table 7.1
Existing Aquatic Facilitiesit
,.. , „T
Spokane Valley Planning Area 1 1
Facility Notes Ownership
Park Road Pool 6-lane x 25-yard outdoor pool City of Spokane Valley
Terrace View Pool 6-lane x 25-yard outdoor pool City of Spokane Valley
Valley Mission Pool 6-lane x 25-yard outdoor pool City of Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley YMCA Leisure and lap pools YMCA
Splashdown Outdoor aquatic park Private/Leased
Within the region, but outside the City of Spokane Valley are five
outdoor pools in the City of Spokane and a number of private pools.
The Spokane River and nearby lakes also provide summer swimming
opportunities.
7.2 DEMAND FOR OUTDOOR POOLS
The following is a summary of the market demand model developed
by the ORB Organization and refined over the years by MIG. Based
on the recreation survey recently completed by MIG, the outdoor
swimming rate in Spokane Valley is 2.98 occasions per person.
However, it is estimated that only 20% of those swimming occasions
will occur in a public pool. Based on an estimated population of
84,000 people in Spokane Valley, monthly swimming needs for public
pools can be calculated as follows:
Park and Recreation Plan 7-1
CHAPTER 7
2.98 x 84,000 x 20% = 50,100 swims
It is a fact that 75% of all swims takes place in shallow water (water
less than 5 feet deep). Using this information, shallow water demand
and deep water demand can be determined:
Shallow Water Demand
Multiply 50,100 monthly swims by 75% = 37,575 shallow swims
Divide by 30 days per month = 1 2,535 daily swims
Multiply by 60%peak load factor = 752 peak swimmers
Multiply by 12 sq. ft. per swimmer = 9,024 sq. ft.water area demand
Deep Water Demand
Multiply 50,100 monthly swims by 25% = 12,525 deep water swims
Divide by 30 days per month = 418 daily swimmers
Multiply by 60%peak load factor = 251 peak swimmers
Multiply by 27 sq. ft. per swimmer = 6,777 sq. ft water area
demand
Total Pool Area Demand: 15,801 sq. ft.water area
Less Credit for Existing Facilities: 13,900 sq.ft. water area'
Net Outdoor Pool Demand: 1,901 sq.ft. water area2
There is currently not enough demand to warrant the development of
an additional outdoor pool.
7.3 THE LEISURE POOL CONCEPT
The difference between a Family Leisure Pool and a Conventional
Swimming Pool is presented in the following definitions:
• A Family Leisure Pool is generally free-form in shape and often
varies from 0 to 5 or 6 feet in depth. These pools often include
moving water that may be in the form of waves or a current. They
usually contain a shallow area for small children, along with free
play area and special effects facilities, such as water slides, bubble
pool, rapids channel, swirl pool, or water playground. The family
leisure pool, as the name implies, is a place for fun and water play
rather than competitive swimming.
' Credit for existing facilities included 9,900 sq. ft. for the three City pools;
2,000 sq. ft. credit for the YMCA pool; and, 2,000 sq. ft. for Splashdown.
7-2 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 7
2 A standard 6-lane, 25-yard pool has 3,300 sq. ft. of water area.
• The Conventional Swimming Pool is usually rectangular in shape
(although it may be "T" or "L"-shaped) and usually constructed in
lengths appropriate for competitive swimming. These pools range
in depth from 3.5-12 feet and often have a diving board. The true
competitive pool, such as the 50-meter pool, may have a shallow
depth of five feet.
The two types of pools attract different interest groups and age profiles.
As a result, they have different operating requirements and user
capacities. For a conventional swimming pool, use is divided between
competitive swimming, lap swimming, and general recreation
swimming. The maximum capacity is about 30-40 annual swimmers
per square foot of surface water area.
A family leisure pool stresses the recreational swimming element and
has a majority of its pool area with depths of four feet or less. The
shallow water permits more people in the pool at one time and is more
conducive to play and general recreation swimming, rather than lap or
competitive swimming. Due to its shallow depth, this type of pool can
accommodate as much as 45-60 swimmers per square foot of surface
water area over the course of a day.
Surveys by the ORB Organization and MIG have shown that family
leisure pools draw from 2-3 times more annual swimmers than the
conventional pool. According to one of their recent surveys, the
average annual swims per capita was 2.5 for the indoor conventional
swimming pool. For the family leisure pool, this number increases to
about 6.5 swims per capita.
7.4 DEMAND FOR AN INDOOR FAMILY LEISURE POOL
The primary market area for a swimming pool is the area generating
most of the paid admissions. For this analysis, the primary market - w=
area is assumed to be the same, regardless of the specific design
selected. The exception is a 50 meter competitive pool that would
attract competitive swimmers from the entire region.
The primary market area includes all those residents living within an
approximate five-mile radius or 15 minutes driving time. Using the
proposed Town Center as the center point of a radius, the primary - —$
market area includes all of the City of Spokane Valley. The capture
rate is the expression of the market support generated by the
population within that area. Within the primary market area, the
Park and Recreation Plan 7-3
CHAPTER 7
capture rate will vary, because some portions of the primary market
area will be closer to a facility.
The secondary market area was considered to be all areas within a 20-
minute driving time of a pool facility. This included some portions to
the west of the City and the community of Liberty Lake to the east.
Attendance Potential
Comparisons made by ORB for family leisure pools in British Columbia
and the Northwest revealed an annual per capita usage ranging from
a high of 5.5 to a low of 3.2. Assuming some competition from the
YMCA family leisure pool, a factor of 3.7 occasions was used for the
primary market area and 1 .0 occasions for the secondary market area.
From the assumptions, the following usage is calculated:
25-yard pool configuration
Primary Market Area (67,000 population)x 2.7 = 247,900 occasions
Secondary Market Area (33,000 population)x 1.0 = 33,000 occasions
Total = 280,900 occasions
50-meter pool configuration
Primary Market Area (67,000 population)x 2.7 = 247,900 occasions
Secondary Market Area (33,000 population)x 2.0 = 66,000 occasions
Total = 313,900 occasions
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
An analysis of potential operating costs and revenues has been
prepared for a family indoor leisure pool with two configurations: 1) a
standard 8-lane, 25-yard main tank; and 2) a 8-lane, 50-meter main
tank. History has shown that a family leisure pool tends to have a high
initial level of participation but then decreases somewhat after the
unique qualities wear off. Therefore, the cost/revenue analysis
described below is for the third year of operation. Excluded from the
cost is a building reserve fund, start-up costs, or any city overhead
applications. The intent of this financial analysis is to provide
parameter-based estimates from which a more detailed projection can
be made as the concept details become more final. The cost-revenue
assumptions are based on today's conditions, recognizing that a facility
will be developed at an undetermined point in the future.
Most of the cost and revenue data reflect operating characteristics of
similar projects. Most are located in the general Denver area and
include Brighton Recreation Center, Breckenridge Recreation Center,
East Boulder Community Center, Golden Community Center, Bob
Burger Recreation Center, Parker Recreation Center, and the
Westminister City Park Center.
7-4 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 7
Design Program
Two design programs are presented in the cost/revenue analysis.
These are:
Alternative A (25-yard pool configuration):
• 25-yard, 8-lane pool
1.1111111-
• Leisure/wave pool
• Warm water pool (15'x30')
• Lazy River
• Water slide
• Spa/Swirl pool
• Large multi-use deck
• Steam room
• Sauna
• Multi-purpose room
• Two meeting rooms
• Dressing rooms
• Administrative space
• Total floor area: 38,800 square feet
Alternative B (8 lane, 50-meter pool configuration)
• Same configuration except for the 50-meter main pool
• Total floor area: 48,400 square feet
Operating Income
Operating income includes the following:
• Paid Admissions: For this study, a per capita expenditure rate was
based on the population of the market area. For the standard 25-
yard tank configuration, the 334,500 annual occasions noted
above was used. For the 50-meter tank configuration, total annual
occasions in the secondary market area was increased to reflect
added usage by competitive swimmers. Total annual occasions for
this configuration was set at 367,500. The assumed average paid
admission based on individual gate passes and annual
memberships is $3.5 per visit. This is based on 75%youth @
$3.00 and 25% adult @ $5.00.
Park and Recreation Plan 7-5
CHAPTER 7
• Concessions: Revenue from concessions typically ranges from as
small as $8,000 to as high as $90,000 annually. The North
Clackamas Wave Pool in Portland collects nearly $200,000
annually. Ultimately the three factors that will determine gross
concessions revenue for the proposed project are the total number
of visitors, size of the concession area, and the hours of operation.
Total visitation includes aquatic and general recreation program
use.
• Swim Lessons: The City currently derives a significant portion of its
outdoor pool revenue from swim lessons. Revenue for swim
lessons at a traditional indoor pool in a large urban area ranges
from a low of $40,000 to as much as $100,000 annually.
Because of the existence of the YMCA pool and the three existing
outdoor pools, it is assumed that revenue from lessons for the
proposed family leisure pool would be approximately $40,000.
• Recreation Classes: This would include revenue from room rentals,
exercise classes, and general recreation classes.
• School District Use: This assumes that the three school districts in
the City would pay a flat fee for swim team use, intramural
swimming, and other uses. A flat fee of $10,000 for each district
was used.
• Swim Team Rentals: This revenue includes fees paid by private
swim clubs. For the 25-yard pool configuration, the amount is
based on a flat fee of $10,000 annually. For the 50-meter pool
configuration, that amount has been raised to $20,000 annually.
• Warm Water Pool Rentals: It is assumed that in addition to general
public use, the facility will also be available for rental use by local
hospitals and physical therapists. Assumed use is an average of 8
hours per week at a rate of $120 per hour.
• Miscellaneous Income: This revenue is from rental of meeting
rooms, aquatic facilities, and other spaces.
Operating Expenses
Pool operating expenses include:
• Salaries and benefits
• Swim instructors
• Insurance (may be included under a city blanket policy)
• Professional services and training
• Maintenance and repairs
7-6 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 7
• Supplies and chemicals
• Concessions (includes non-food items)
• Utilities
• Miscellaneous items
• Building Reserve Fund (not included as a cost)
• City overhead cost (Not included as a cost but would include
charges applied to the facility from other departments)
Tables 7.2 and 7.3 present the estimated revenue and costs for 25-
yard and 50-meter pool configurations.
Table 7.2
Cost/Revenue Statement
25-Yard Pool Configuration
(3rd year of Operation)
Income and Expenses MIL Cost
Operating Income
Paid Admissions (Aquatics) @ $3.50 per user $980,000
Concessions (280,900 annual visits) @ $0.10 per visit $28,100
Swim Lessons $20,000
Recreation Classes $5,000
School District Use $30,000
Swim Team Rentals (allowance) $10,000
Warm Water Pool Rental $50,000
Miscellaneous Income $5,000
TOTAL $1,128,100
Expenses
Salaries and Benefits @ $2.75 per visit $772,500
Instructors @ 70%of swim lesson income $14,000
Insurance (allowance) $50,000
Professional Services @ $0.43 per sq. ft. floor area (1) $16,700
Maintenance and Repairs @ $1.70 per sq. ft. floor area $66,000
Supplies and Chemicals @ $1.00 per sq. ft. floor area $38,800
Concession @ 50%of concession income $14,050
Utilities @ $15.30 per sq. ft.water area (2) $149,300
Miscellaneous costs @ $0.45 per sq. ft. floor area $1 7,500
Building Reserve Fund NIC
City Overhead Cost NIC
Start-up Costs NIC
TOTAL $1,138,850
OPERATING DEFICIT $10,750
(1) Assumes a building size of 38,800 sq. ft. of floor area
Park and Recreation Plan 7-7
CHAPTER 7
(2) Assumes water area of 9,760 sq. ft.
Table 7.3
Cost/Revenue Statement
50-Meter Pool Configuration
(3rd year of Operation)
Income and Expenses Cost
Operating Income
Paid Admissions (Aquatics) @ $3.50 per user $1,098,600
Concessions (31 3,900 annual visits @ $0.10 per visit $31,400
Swim Lessons $20,000
Recreation Classes $5,000
School District Use $30,000
Swim Team Rentals (allowance) $20,000
Warm Water Pool Rental $50,000
Miscellaneous Income $5,000
TOTAL $1,260,000
Expenses
Salaries and Benefits @ $2.75 per visit $863,200
Instructors @ 70%of swim lesson income $14,000
Insurance (allowance) $50,000
Professional Services @ $0.43 per sq. ft. floor area (1) $20,800
Maintenance and Repairs @ $1.70 per sq. ft. floor area $82,300
Supplies and Chemicals @ $1.00 per sq. ft. floor area $48,400
Concession @ 50%of concession income $15,700
Utilities @ $15.30 per sq. ft.water area (2) $230,100
Miscellaneous costs @ $0.45 per sq. ft. floor area $21,800
Building Reserve Fund NIC
City Overhead Cost NIC
Start-up Costs NIC
TOTAL $1,346,300
OPERATING DEFICIT $86,300
(1) Assumes a building size of 48,400 sq. ft. of floor area
(2) Assumes water area of 15,040 sq. ft.
7-8 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 7
7.5 AQUATIC RECOMMENDATIONS
Currently the City has $1 .6 million to spend on aquatic improvements.
This money is to be transferred to the City from Spokane County.
Originally intended to be used to fund an indoor pool, the amount was
found to be inadequate for that purpose. It is assumed that the money
could also be used for improvements to the existing outdoor pools.
However, additional research is needed to confirm this assumption.
For this study, outdoor and indoor concepts to meeting aquatic needs
were studied. Three concepts are depicted on the following pages.
The first two concepts are provided as short-term options and the third
concept is a long-term solution for development of an indoor aquatic
complex.
• Concept #11: Upgrade and add leisure component to three
existing outdoor pools
• Concept #2: Add large water play component to one
existing outdoor pool and perform basic upgrades to two
existing outdoor pools
• Concept #3: Indoor aquatic coplex
Concept #1 : Outdoor Pool Upgrades and Small Leisure Component
For a short-term solution, several alternatives were studied. One
option was to develop a new fourth pool in the eastern quadrant of the
city. It was found that the available money for construction was not
adequate. In addition, the needs assessment did not reveal enough
demand to warrant another outdoor pool. For this reason, Concept
#1 was developed to divide the available $1 .6 million between the
three pools and use it to upgrade the facilities and add a small leisure
component (such as a waterslide) to each (see illustration of Concept
#1 on the following page).
Improvements to each of the three outdoor pools would be:
• Upgrade of existing facilities
• Add Lazy River
• Add large sun deck
Estimated Cost of Improvements: $1,574,000
Park and Recreation Plan 7-9
CHAPTER 7
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7-10 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 7
Concept #2: Outdoor Pool Upgrades and Large Water
Play Component
Concept #2 has a higher cost than Concept #1 . In this concept, the
City would upgrade two of the existing outdoor pools as shown in
Concept #1, but use the majority of the $1 .6 million for a large water
play component at Valley Mission Pool. The improvements would be
located north of the bathhouse and require removal of the tennis
courts. Because the new revised Valley Mission Pool may compete with
the existing Splashdown, the City should consider a partnership with
the manager of that facility.
Specific facilities and improvements recommended for the Valley
Mission Pool include (see illustration of Concept #2 on following
page):
• Upgrade existing facilities
• Add Lazy River
• Add zero depth entry pool
• Add spray park
• Add large sun deck
Cost of Improvements: $2,630,000
Park and Recreation Plan 7-11
CHAPTER 7
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Concept #2
7-12 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 7
Concept #3: Indoor Aquatic Complex
In the long term, the Plan recommends the development of an indoor
aquatic complex to be located within the proposed City Center. A
specific site within this area has yet to be determined, and the
recommended design program will determine if the main pool will be
a 50-meter competitive pool or a 25-yard competitive/multi-use pool
(American Short Course Pool).
The recommended activity spaces for this facility should contain the
following components:
• 25-yard, 8-lane pool (or 50-meter, 8-lane pool)
• Wave pool
• Water slide
• Steam room and sauna
• Spa or water swirl
• Lazy river
• Warm water pool
• Multi-purpose room and two meeting rooms
• Dressing rooms
• Administration space
Total Floor Area: 38,800 sq. ft. (25-yard pool component)
Total Floor Area: 48,400 sq. ft. (50-meter component)
Cost of Improvements: $9,900,000 (25-yard pool)
Cost of Improvements: $12,400,000 (50-meter pool)
According to the demand analysis conducted in Section 8.4, the City
could expect annual visitation to a 25-yard configured leisure pool to
be about 280,000 occasions. This is compared to about 100,000 to
140,000 visits for a standard 25-yard pool.
Park and Recreation Plan 7-13
CHAPTER 7
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CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY 'DOES NOT INC Lone LAND
Concept #3
7-14 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 8
IMPLEMENTATION
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 8:
IMPLEMENTATION
This chapter discusses an implementation strategy for funding the
improvements recommended in the Park and Recreation Plan. It
includes a capital facilities plan, which identifies costs and revenue
sources for the next six years.
8.1 FUNDING SOURCES
The following are possible funding sources for acquiring, developing
and maintaining parks and other recreational areas in the City of
Spokane Valley.
1. General Fund: This is the City's primary source for operating
revenue. Most of this revenue comes from taxes levied on
property and the sale of merchandise within the City's
boundary.
2. Municipal Capital Improvement Program Funding: This is a six
year financing program for major capital expenditures funded
from the General Fund. The current CIP amounts to
approximately $28.4 million for the period 2006 to 2012. Of
this amount, $5.7 million is allocated to parks.
3. General Obligation Bond: These are voter-approved bonds
with the assessment placed on real property. The money may
only be used for capital improvements. This property tax is
levied for a specified period of time (usually 15-20 years).
Passage requires a two-third's majority approval with 50% of
the voters voting. Major disadvantages of this funding option
are the high approval requirement and the interest costs.
4. Special Serial Levy: This is a property tax assessed for the
construction and/or operation of park facilities. This type of
levy is established at a given rate for 3-5 years and requires a
simple majority for voter approval. The advantage of this type
of levy is that there are no interest charges.
5. Revenue Bonds: These bonds are sold and paid for from the
revenue produced from the operation of a facility. The City
does not have any recreational facilities funded in this manner.
Park and Recreation Plan 8-1
CHAPTER 8
6. Donations: The donation of labor, land, or cash by service
agencies, private groups or individuals is a popular way to
raise small amounts of money for specific projects. Service
agencies, such as Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary Clubs, often fund
small projects, such as playground improvements.
7. Exchange of Property: If the City has an excess parcel of land
with some development value, it could be traded for private
land more suitable for park use.
8. Joint Public/Private Partnership: This concept has become
increasingly popular for park and recreation agencies. The
basic approach is for a public agency to enter into a working
agreement with a private corporation to help fund, build,
and/or operate a public facility. Generally, the three primary
incentives a public agency can offer are free land to place a
facility (usually a park or other parcel of public land), certain
tax advantages and access to the facility. While the public
agency may have to give up certain responsibilities or control, it
is one way of obtaining public facilities at a lower cost.
9. Lifetime Estates: This is an agreement between the City and a
land owner, where the City gives the owner the right to live on
the site after it is sold.
10. Park Impact Fees: Park Impact Fees are fees imposed on new
development because of the impacts the projects have on the
City's infrastructure. While common in most Washington cities,
Spokane Valley has not imposed this fee yet.
11. Certificates of Participation: This is a lease-purchase approach
where the City sells Certificates of Participation (COPs) to a
lending institution. The City then pays the loan off from
revenue produced by the facility or from its general operating
budget. The lending institution holds title to the property until
the COPs are repaid. This procedure does not require a vote
of the public.
Public/Government Grant Programs:
12. HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): These
grants from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban
Development are available for a wide variety of projects. Most
are distributed in the lower income areas of the community.
Grants can cover up to 100% of project costs.
13. Land and Water Conservation Fund: This is a federal grant
program that receives its money from offshore oil leases. The
8-2 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 8
money is distributed through the National Park Service and is
administered locally by the Washington State Interagency
Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC). In the past, this was
one of the major sources of grant money for local agencies. In
the 1990s, funding at the federal level was severely cut, but in
recent times more money has become available. In the current
proposed federal budget, a small amount of money has been
allocated to this program. The funds can be used for
acquisition and development of outdoor facilities and requires
a 50% match.
14. Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA):
Through the years, Washington has received considerable
revenue for trail-related projects. Originally called The
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), this
program funded a wide variety of transportation related
projects. In 1998, it was modified and is now referred to as
TEA21 . These funds can generally be used for landscape and
amenity improvements related to trail and transportation
projects.
15. Youth Athletic Fund: The Youth Athletic Fund is a grant
program designed to provide funding for new, improved, and
better maintained outdoor athletic facilities serving youth and
communities. This program was established by State Statute
(RCW 79A.25.800-830) as part of the State Referendum 48,
which provided funding for the Seattle Seahawks Stadium.
Applicants must provide matching funds of at least 50 percent.
16. Boating Facilities Program: This is a grant program funded
through the IAC. Projects eligible under this program include
acquisition, development, planning, and renovation projects
associated with launching ramps, transient moorage, and
upland support facilities. Grants are distributed on an annual
basis and require a 25 percent match.
1 7. Aquatic Land Enhancement Account: This program is
administered by the IAC and is intended to provide support for
the purchase, improvement, or protection of aquatic lands for
public purposes and access to these resources. Applicants must
provide a minimum of a 50 percent match.
18. Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program: This program is
administered by the IAC. There are two accounts under this
program: 1) Habitat Conservation; and 2) Outdoor Recreation.
Projects eligible under this program include acquisition and
development of parks, water access sites, trails, critical wildlife
Park and Recreation Plan 8-3
CHAPTER 8
habitat, natural areas, and urban wildlife habitat. Applicants
must provide a minimum of a 50 percent non-IAC match.
19. Exactions: Costs of necessary public improvements are passed
onto the adjacent landowners.
20. Public Land Trusts: Private land trusts, such as the Trust for
Public Land, Inc. and the Nature Conservancy will acquire and
hold land for eventual acquisition by a public agency.
21. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW): USFW may provide
technical assistance and administer funding for projects related
to water quality improvement through debris and
habitat/vegetation management, watershed management and
stream bank erosion, and sediment deposition projects.
Other Potential Sources:
22. Partnerships: The City is in a unique position to develop
additional partnerships with other jurisdictions or agencies to
implement projects identified in the plan. Some potential
partners include the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, private sport
groups, neighborhood organizations, Spokane County, and the
City of Spokane.
23 .Private Grants and Foundations: Private grants and
foundations provide money for a wide range of projects. They
are sometimes difficult to find and equally difficult to secure
because of the open competition. They usually fund unique
projects or ones of extreme need.
8-4 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 8
8.2 CAPITAL PROJECTS
Table 8.1 lists all projects identified in the Plan along with their
potential development costs.
Table 8.1
Estimate Costs for Capital Projects (All Projects)
Map Key Size Park A Opinion of
(acres) Probable
No Action
NP-14 5.0 Orchard Avenue Park 0
CP-12 17.3 Mira beau Park 0
SU-18 518.0 Camp Caro 0
SU-23 Town Center Site 0
SU-11 13.6 CenterPlace 0
Park and Facility Upgrade
NP-4 2.0 Trentwood School/Park $125,000
NP-19 2.0 Park Road Pool Park $375,000
NP-17 4.8 Edgecliff Park $374,000
NP-22 2.8 Balfour Park $88,000
NP-29 9.0 Terrace View Park $516,000
NP-28 8.2 Brown's Park $353,000
CP20 1 7.0 Valley Mission Park 190,000
SU-5 10.0 Sullivan Park $520,000
$2,541,000
Park Development
NP-1 4.0 West Valley Park $750,000
NP-6 4.0 Donwoodl Park $750,000
NP-8 4.0 North Barker Road Park $750,000
NP-25 2.7 Castle Park $506,000
NP-26 4.0 Chester Creek Park $750,000
NP-27 4.0 Painted Hills Park $750,000
NP-31 2.0 Summit School Park $100,000
NP-30 2.0 Keystone School Park $100,000
NP-32 2.0 Progress School Park $100,000
NP-33 2.0 Greenacres School Park $100,000
NP-34 4.0 South Barker Park $750,000
NP-35 4.0 32"d Avenue Park $750„000
Park and Recreation Plan 8-5
CHAPTER 8
Table 8.1 (continued)
Park Development(con't)
CP-9 10.0 Green Acres Park $1,875,000
CP-16 20.0 Southwest Hills Park $3,750,000
CP-36 20.0 Shelly Lake Park $3,750,000
SU-10 2.0 Mission Ave. Trailhead $375,000
SU-13 31.0 Myrtle Point Park $469,000
SU-21 10.0 Valley Mission South $1,805,000
$18,180,000
Acquisition
NP-1 4.0 West Valley Park $250,000
NP-6 4.0 Donwood Park $250,000
NP-8 4.0 North Barker Park $250,000
NP-26 4.0 Chester Creek Park $75,000
NP-27 4.0 Painted Hills Park $250,000
NP-34 4.0 South Barker Park $250,000
NP-35 4.0 32'd Avenue Park $250,000
CP-9 10.0 Green Acres Park $625,000
CP-16 20.0 Southwest Hills Park $1,250,000
CP-36 20.0 Shelly Lake Park $875,000
SU-10 2.0 Mission Avenue Trailhead $125,000
OS-3 65.0 Progress Road O.S. $65,000
OS-7 27.0 Spokane River O.S. $27,000
0S-15 104.0 Broadway O.S. $104,000
OS-24 194.0 Chester Creek O.S. $194,000
OS-35 164.0 Shaney Lake O.S. $164,000
$5,004,000.00
Total $25,725,000
8.3 PRELIMINARY PROJECT PRIORITIES
The total cost for all the improvements identified in Table 8.1 is nearly
$26 million. This is more than the City can, or will, finance in the near
term. To be able to direct funding toward the most significant projects
in terms of meeting community needs, all projects recommended in the
Plan were prioritized. The recommended actions listed in priority order
are:
• Upgrade existing park facilities: The City should show some
action. Since all of the parks need some improvements, this is a
place where immediate action could occur. Upgrading of park
sites should be a six year program.
8-6 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 8
• Make aquatic improvements: Since the money is available, these
improvements could occur immediately.
• Acquire park land: It is important to acquire park land while it is
available. The highest acquisition should be the proposed
community park site in Green Acres.
• Upgrade school/park sites: This should be an on-going action.
• Acquire natural open space sites: Most or all of the land
designated in the Plan are environmentally sensitive parcels that
will probably not be developed in the near future. As a result,
these properties may be given to the City as dedications from
adjoining land development.
8.4 BASIS FOR ESTIMATING COSTS
Development costs can vary widely depending on the location, facility
type, construction method, off-site costs, quality of development, and
other constraints on the project. For purposes of estimating cost, the
following assumptions were made:
• Land Acquisition: For development, land prices were estimated at
$50,000 per acre. In some areas of the City, land acquisition
could well exceed this amount. For open space acquisition, costs
were placed at $1,000 per acre. This assumes that most of the
land acquired will be undevelopable because of environmental
constraints.
• Development: Potential costs were established for each element of
park development for each park site. These costs excluded street
improvements and any other off-site costs. For typical
neighborhood and community parks, an assumption of $150,000
per acre was used.
• School Park Improvements: An estimated cost of $100,000 per site
was used.
• Park Upgrade: Each site was estimated individually. A separate
spreadsheet is available.
• Design: The figures assume a project designed by a professional
design firm and bid through a competitive public bidding process.
Design costs were estimated at 10% of construction cost.
• Contingency: A contingency of 15% was utilized.
Park and Recreation Plan 8-7
CHAPTER 8
8.5 CAPITAL COSTS
Table 8.2 summarizes probable construction costs of all the projects
listed in the Plan.
" . � Table 8.2
' a - } Summary of Probable Cost for Recommended Improvements
Spokane Valley Park and Recreation Plan
Item Cost
Land Acquisition $5,004,000
Park and Facility Upgrade $1,916,000
School Park Upgrade $625,000
Park Development $18,180,000
TOTAL $25,725,000.00
8.6 CURRENT FUNDING AVAILABILITY
The City has an adopted Capital Improvement Program that will be
primarily funded through the General Fund. For parks, the funding
allocation is as follows:
Table 8.3
Funding Allocation for Parks, Year 2006-2012
Spokane Valley Park and Recreation Plan
Year Allocation
Year 2006 $1,300,000
Year 2007 $2,550,000
Year 2008 $500,000
Year 2009 $500,000
Year 2010 $580,000
Year 2011 $100,000
Year 2012 $200,000
Total $5,730,000
Even with this level of funding ($5,730,000), the City has a significant
deficit of financial resources to implement the improvements
recommended in the Plan.
8-8 Park and Recreation Plan
CHAPTER 8
8.7 FINANCING STRATEGY
It is recommended that the City embark on a conservative park capital
development plan. While community needs exist to warrant a more
aggressive financing strategy, the City should first demonstrate the ability
to develop several smaller park projects before embarking on a much
larger one.
The short-term capital improvement plan presented below represents the
current City CIP plus some additional outside sources. However,
recognizing the magnitude of need, a more aggressive funding plan,
including a tax-supported measure, should be considered in approximately
year 4. This larger funding package would be used to acquire land and
develop several of the large community parks.
Capital Improvement Plan
Table 8.4 summarizes the recommended projects and funding sources for
the first phase.
Table 8.4
Summary of Funding and Expenditures (First Phase of Seven Years)
Spokane Valley Park and Recreation Plan
Project 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total
Expenditures
Park Land Acquisition $1,000 $1,000
Park Improvements $300 $950 $500 $500 $580 $100 $200 $3,130
Swimming Pool $1,600 $1,600
Improvements
Total $1,300 $2,550 $500 $500 $580 $100 $200 $5,370
Revenue Sources
General Fund $1,300 $300 $1,600
REET#1 $450 $400 $400 $400 $100 $200 $1,950
Grants $200 $100 $100 $180 $580
Spokane County $1,600 $1,600
s' $1,300 $2,550 $500 $500 $580 $100 $200 $5,730
Note: Amounts are in 000's.
Park and Recreation Plan 8-9
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Mike Jackson, Parks and Recreation Director
Karen Parson, Senior Center Coordinator
Carol Carter, Administrative Assistant
SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL
Diana Wilhite, Mayor
Rich Munson, Deputy Mayor
Dick Denenny
Michael DeVleming
Bill Gothmann
Gary Schimmels
Steve Taylor
David Mercier, City Manager
Nina Regor, Deputy City Manager
PREPARED BY:
M I
Moore lacofano Goltsman, Inc.
815 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 200
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 297-1005
www.migcom.com
Jerry Draggoo
Cindy Mendoza
Robert Litt
Andrea Goldsberry