Bad news for Whitewater Park enthusiasts: The Spokesman reports the project lost its $500,000 grant. From the Spokesman:

In a 6-1 vote, the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board agreed with a staff decision in April not to extend the expiring grant. Board members rejected the suggestion that doing so would kill the momentum for the project; instead they said the project should complete an environmental impact statement and obtain needed permits, then return to the board to ask for the grant to be awarded a second time.

Spokane City Parks Director Leroy Eadie said the next step will be to “go back and regroup” and try to find the $75,000 to $80,000 needed for the EIS. It might be possible to pay for that study with another grant obtained by Friends of the Falls.

“This is a little bump in the road. This project’s had a lot of bumps in the road,” Eadie said.

As I've stated before, I've always been exited about the whitewater park and I believed there shoul've been an extension of the grant. It has been a complex process and the slow pace is a result of thoughtful consideration to the environment, wildlife and community. Why kill it now?

The project could have many potential benefits for economic development, outdoor recreation, access, safety, and even the fish habitat if done right. Plus it is an important component to the larger vision of The Great Spokane River Gorge.

Check here for my post on that long process.

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