Put climbing wall to a vote

Thank you for alerting me to another Parks Department development. Three decades ago I helped write an amendment to the City Charter requiring a vote on the sale of park land for Preserve Our Parks. Our intent was to avoid favoritism to developers instead of the public, such as was proposed then for Murphy Park in Lincoln Heights, such as just occurred below Bernard on the South Hill, and such as is now proposed for Riverfront Park.

Who does our fine Spokane park system serve? The people who can afford to lease or build on park property? Or the people who have used it for generations? Newcomers who love the falls? People who want a view of the river for their kids, or people who want to be near nature, who work and live downtown?

Please, Park Board, put it to a vote as the amendment requires. When did the language ‘climbing wall’ become part of the Riverfront Plan? Has the City Plan regarding views of the falls, the Spokane River, or the iconic Monroe Street Bridge been included?

Consult Shorelines Management: They nixed the Lincoln Street Bridge. Absolutely consult the people of Spokane.

Carol Ellis

Spokane