Spokane Valley, library district OK plan to develop land

The city of Spokane Valley and the Spokane County Library District have both approved a plan for the joint development of 8.4 acres of land the city owns at the corner of Sprague Avenue and Herald Road.

The library district bought nearly 3 acres on the southwest corner of the property from the city for a new Spokane Valley Library branch. The city-owned portion of the site will be used to expand neighboring Balfour Park.

The finalized site plan includes open play areas, a picnic shelter, paths, a splash pad and a reading garden. The public was given a chance to participate in the design of the park during several public meetings held in the past six months.

The new library branch is contingent on voter approval of a $22 million bond on the April 2014 ballot. The bond would pay for a new Spokane Valley branch, a new neighborhood branch on Conklin Road and improvements to the Argonne Library.

The district is in the midst of creating a Capital Facilities District to include Spokane Valley, Millwood, Otis Orchards and the surrounding area. The bond issue would only go before voters living in the newly created facilities district.

If the library bond passes it would likely be about a year before ground is broken on the library. The city of Spokane Valley has not identified funding or a construction timeline for expansion of the park.