As the design and permitting phase of Spokane’s proposed whitewater park continues to progress, one step involves hosting “open-house” style meetings to give folks an opportunity to see the work first-hand - and to give FOF and its design consultants feedback.

Just such an event is coming up soon: Spokane Parks, acting as lead in this case, is hosting a public meeting on the whitewater park on Thursday, August 14 at the West Central Community Center from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Per State requirements, the Department recently sent notice by mail to those who live near the project area, and has posted notice in “People’s Park” near the Sandifur Bridge.

Again, the purpose of the meeting is to receive comments and input from the community on the preliminary design of the feature, and will serve as the initial public meeting for the project’s conditional use permit application under State shoreline regulations.

Please help us out by attending this important meeting, and by letting anyone who wishes to express their support for and/or concerns about the project know about it, too!

Following a long cold winter, we’ve had some fantastic spring weather recently. And because regional mountain snowpack levels were pretty healthy this year, they’re now beginning to feed what should be a great year for the Spokane River and Falls. Right now, they’re truly spectacular.

One FOF member took a few snapshots of the river last Sunday and Monday, and sent them along for everyone’s enjoyment. Captions are included, in case you’re not sure about the vantage points.

Check out the photos below, but know there’s no photographer or camera made that captures the experience of standing near the river in-person. If you go, be sure to visit the base of the Lower Falls in Huntington Park; despite appearances, this area is open to the public. Find stairway access behind the north side of City Hall.

Tribes considered the Falls to be sacred; many thousands since - if given opportunity and the proper perspective - have reached similar conclusions.

The River and Falls await. Set other things aside, watch and listen.

Update: As the river neared its peak on May 23, the Spokesman-Review’s Thomas Clouse filed an amazing, well-narrated video story - check it out at the link below!

Falls Snapshots (Flash™ Gallery)
Spokane River Water Show (weblink)

For approximately two years, the City of Spokane has been working on updating its Shoreline Master Program, a critical document for our river and shoreline areas. Friends of the Falls has been involved from day one.

But a State deadline approaches, and it’s time for another City-sponsored open house to allow for community feedback on progress. It’s set for Wednesday, May 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in Mason Auditorium at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt. (GMap)

The Shoreline Master Program (SMP) was first drafted 30 years ago and addresses such issues as environmental protection and restoration of shoreline areas, economic development, shorelines uses and access to waterways. For more on the document, see the City’s project-specific website, accessible here.

Board Vice-Chair Travis Nichols reports there are some compelling issues being discussed and in need community input, including the current debate on high-rise towers versus medium-height, mixed-use development along shorelines, designations for key sites in the Gorge, and more.

Want to provide input on how the City should manage development along the shorelines of the Spokane River and Hangman (Latah) Creek? Want to review existing or proposed environmental designations for shorelines, or help shape the goals, policies, and regulations that’ll go along with those designations? Show up and voice your thoughts!

Even if you can’t make Wednesday’s meeting, be sure to check out the City’s progress at spokaneplanning.org, then email your comments to shorelines@spokanecity.org - or give project manager Jo Anne Wright a call, at 509-625-6017.

The gorge plan covers a lot - even many specifics - but some areas need area-specific planning and design consideration. The Peaceful Valley neighborhood is one such area.

So apologies to all, especially Peaceful Valley activists, for not posting more on their recent planning efforts for neighborhood shoreline areas. But since we’ve been helping organizers for some time now, and since former FOF Board member Mike Terrell is helping facilitate the process, we figure we’ll post more as things develop. And there’ll be a lot more to come, from the looks of things.

The next big step for this exciting process is a three-day design charrette, set for the evening of March 28th through Sunday, March 30. Lots happening, and a lot of details we could report here, but let’s just start by referring everyone to the neighborhood’s project-specific website, at http://www.reclaimpeacefulvalley.com

Check it out - even if you’re not a resident of PV, it’s worth a visit just to see a neighborhood as organized and fired up about improving their surroundings as this one is!