We wondered at first if this was a good fit for inclusion here, but with several bicycle and/or pedestrian-oriented projects identified in the Gorge Master Plan, we’ll say it fits perfectly.

In any case, our contacts at Washington State’s office of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) sent this item recently, and we thought we’d spread the word to our bike/ped friends at the City and of course to Friends of the Centennial Trail.

It’s an $11-million dollar pot of money now available from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), to be distributed through two grant programs related to non-auto transportation. One’s about safe routes to school, but the other program could have implications for area-wide trails and bike lanes, maybe even in the Spokane River Gorge. Called the “Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Grant Program,” the source is all about “...funding projects that improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, and may include “engineering solutions and educational programs.”

It seems the grants have to be issued through a public agency like the City of Spokane, but efforts - especially from groups - that help identify and assist with grant applications are usually welcome at the City.

Design work for the trail through the Kendall Yards area? Work to improve safety along that nasty stretch of the Centennial Trail running along the Government Way and Fort George Wright zoom-ways? Maybe so.

Check out the press release for the grants, downloadable below.

WSDOT Bike/Ped Grants (96 Kb, Acrobat® file)

Friends of the Falls have been thrilled to work with Spokane’s new Mayor, Mary Verner on moving the Gorge Plan and its agenda items forward.

Most recently, we were honored to learn that Interim Parks Director Roger Crum will begin attending FOF monthly Board meetings on behalf of the Mayor and the department.

Mr. Crum is expected to continue his position through the selection process of the City’s new Parks & Recreation Director. The applications deadline for the position closed on Friday, January 18, and a selection committee is now being formed to interview the candidates. Mr. Crum has not applied for the position.

Friends of the Falls has maintained a good working relationship with the Parks Department and the Parks Board over the years. Thanks to the Mayor and Mr. Crum for helping set the stage for even more effective collaboration in the future.

For more on Mr. Crum’s appointment, see the links below including a release issued by the City of Spokane, and an article appearing in the Spokesman-Review on December 20, 2007.

“Crum named Interim Parks Director” (Weblink, City News article)
Spokesman-Review article (56 Kb, Acrobat® file)

The Spokane River is spectacular in winter, particularly in years like this one, when we’ve had a lot of lingering snow and ice to decorate the shoreline. Between Hangman Creek and through Riverside State Park, hiking - and on many days, cross-country skiing - is a great way to see the river from a fresh perspective.

But our friends at the Northwest Whitewater Rafting Association take it a bit further each New Year’s Day with their annual “Fools Float on the First” run through the Bowl and Pitcher Rapids.

NWRA President and long-time supporter Paul Delaney sent us a few snapshots of this year’s event, which frankly, looked like a lot of fun and a great way to begin the new year.

Paul mentioned that turnout was a bit low this year, given that float-time temperatures were a little low as well - about 20 degrees.

But with dozens actually diving into the icy waters upstream at Lake Coeur d’Alene, we’re thinking Paul’s group will have to come up with a better excuse to miss next year’s event.

P.S.: Haven’t seen the NWRA website? Interested in additional information on whitewater parks around the country? Check out the group’s webpage on the proposed Spokane whitewater park here or at the link below.

Northwest Whitewater Rafting Association - Whitewater Park (Weblink)
Coeur d’Alene Polar Bear Plunge (YouTube® video)

The guys at the Spokesman-Review’s Down to Earth blog have done it again, this time producing a nice slideshow about the proposed whitewater park.

Right up front (it’s the title of the post) moderators Bart Mihailovich and Paul Dillon admit it’s no Michael Moore production, but the images and narration they’ve put together covers some of the key attributes of the proposal - and if you haven’t visited the confluence area yourself, offers some great shots of conditions where the park is to be located.

Check it out at Down to Earth, and thanks, guys!

DTE Whitewater Park slideshow (Weblink)