This Spring, Riverside State Park and the RSP Foundation teamed up in a bid to enhance public accessibility, and to protect scenic beauty and habitat values of existing parklands.  The resulting proposals call for several critical parcels of land to be acquired by the Spokane County Conservation Futures Program.  Those properties include:

• A gorgeous 69-acre parcel along Pine Bluff Road that contains a variety of scabland, wetland, forest, and meadow habitats.  Public acquisition of this parcel would provide much-needed access to an adjacent and currently landlocked 80-acre State Park natural area.  This area is valuable habitat for moose, deer, wild turkey, waterfowl, songbirds, raptors and other wildlife and native plants. 

• A 280-acre property in the Nine Mile Falls area that is surrounded on three sides by park and whose acquisition would vastly improve the connectivity of Riverside’s northern lands, both for public recreation and for wildlife movement.  In addition, it would improve public safety by allowing the reroute of a dangerous section of the Centennial Trail away from the steep, narrow roadway it currently shares with Carlson Road. 

• A small but important privately owned in-holding within the Little Spokane Natural Area.  This parcel includes a portion of the riverbed and surrounding riparian wetlands.   

Park Manager Rene’ Wiley submitted nominations of these three properties shortly before the deadline on May 2, 2005, to Steve Horobiowski, Spokane County Parks Planner and administrator of the Conservation Futures Program.  The nominations were prepared with assistance from park aides Rob Kennedy and Shawn Flaim, and Foundation board members Eric Erickson and Asha Rehnberg. 

A fourth nomination of land that adjoins Riverside was made by a local community group, the White Bluff Prairie Coalition:

• Adjacent to Riverside’s southwesterly end in the West Plains, that 754-acre nominated property includes a portion of Deep Creek canyon that lies within Riverside’s CAMP-established, long-term boundary.  Public acquisition of this property would resolve some long-standing recreational trespass issues in the canyon.  The canyon is separated from the rest of the nominated property by steep bluffs – home to many bats and cliff-nesting birds.  Above those cliffs, the property’s bluff-top benches and plateau contain a mix of pine forests, rocky outcrops, and open meadow environments. 

The RSP Foundation provided assistance and letters of support for all four of these nominations.  Support was also provided by the Inland Northwest Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen, Inland Northwest Land Trust, and a number of other local recreation and conservation groups.

In a time of budget crises and deep cutbacks, Spokane County residents are blessed to have this local “Conservation Futures Program” (CFP), whose resources are separate and distinct from the County’s general fund. Over a decade ago, the Spokane County Commissioners created this program based on a model authorized by Washington statutes.  Since then that program has been enthusiastically supported by the electorate.  The CFP levies a small property tax on all county landowners (just $6 per $100,000 of property value per year) and invests it in at-risk lands with exceptional wildlife habitat, scenic beauty and recreational values.  To date, the program has created an admirable system of natural area parklands and urban greenways totaling over 4,000 acres. 

To accomplish shared goals and enhance connectivity, the County has sometimes invested CFP funds in lands that join Riverside holdings, such as in and around the Little Spokane Natural Area and the Centennial Trail.  In those areas, mixed ownership, coupled with ongoing inter-agency agreements, has often been critical to the accomplishment of practical, economical, coordinated park management.   

Riverside and the Foundation hope that some or all of the properties nominated this year will be selected for funding by the County to further such shared goals. 

On the other hand, we know better than to count our chickens yet.  The CFP selection process is competitive, with stringent evaluation criteria and many very worthy proposals competing for limited funds.  Moreover, the County’s staff, parks advisory board and commissioners must weigh the relative merits of enhancing existing parks versus creating new ones in portions of the county that are underserved. 

The Conservation Futures Program received a total of 19 nominations in the 2005.   If you would like to show your support for some or all of the Riverside-related nominations, or to hear more about these and the other properties nominated, you are invited to attend a public meeting tentatively scheduled for Thursday, July 14, beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, Ag Building “B”, 404 N. Havana, Spokane.  To confirm the time and place or for more information contact  Steve Horobiowski, Spokane County Park, Rec & Golf Dept., 477-2529.

Mountain Bike Riding in Riverside State Park

by Mike Brixey

Spokane area residents are fortunate to have an incredible variety of mountain biking opportunities right in their own back yard. Riverside State Park has a wide range of trails suitable for all levels of riding ability. The trails consist of the paved Centennial Trail, graded service roads, narrower double track utility roads and, that mountain biker’s favorite, single track. The Park’s linear configuration and numerous connecting trails allow tailoring a ride’s length to anyone’s preference.

Riders also will be treated to being able to observe the wide variety of the Park’s wildlife, geology and foliage. Osprey fishing along the river, herds of deer grazing, swallows nesting in the cliffs of Deep Creek and woodpeckers searching for food in the stumps of the burn areas are just a few of the animals to be sighted. Pine forests, riverfront marshes and basalt formations unveil themselves to trail travelers.

Bike riders also have the chance to test their skills in organized events. The annual 24-hour Ride Around the Clock race is held on Memorial Day Weekend. For those eager to cure winter cabin fever, the Blazing Saddles Chili Ride is held in February, rain, snow, sun or wind no matter. More details can be found at www.roundandround.com, the website for Round and Round Productions, the events’ organizer. The City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department holds a summer race series with weekly events.

Riders need to be aware of certain regulations affecting riding in the park. No bikes are permitted on trails south of the suspension bridge at the Bowl and Pitcher. This area is used by the Trail Town Trail concessionaire. Inexperienced riders on rental horses are not a good mix with fast, quiet bikes. Also, no bikes (or horses) are permitted in the Little Spokane River Natural Area. Care should also be exercised when riding in the ORV area at Seven Mile. Motorcycle and ATV riders may not be expecting to see bikes on the trails in this area, so extra awareness is recommended to avoid conflicts with high speed vehicles.

All other trails in the Park are designated as multi-use. This means that riders should expect to encounter hikers, trail runners, equestrians and any other non-motorized users. Bikers should use the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s (IMBA) Rules of the Trail regarding proper trail etiquette:

1. Ride on Open Trails Only

2. Leave No Trace

3. Control Your Bicycle!

4. Always Yield Trail

5. Never Scare Animals

6. Plan Ahead

Following these simple rules will help to allow all Park visitors to enjoy their visit to the wonderful resource we are so fortunate to have so close to home.

Volunteer Efforts Built Sontag Park

By Benita Mason

The 1969 ceremony that dedicated the new park at Nine Mile as Sontag Park recognized that the very existence of the park was due to the untiring efforts of Harold and Margaret Sontag.  Margaret and Harold spearheaded the Nine Mile Community Club in pursuing Harold's vision of a school playground and park on state land adjoining Nine Mile School.   In 1968, after years of effort, the State Parks and Recreation Commission executed a use permit that granted Spokane County perpetual use of fifty-four acres of land for a park along with an additional ten acres transferred to Nine Mile School for a playground. The county committed to matching donated labor with dollars to develop the park.   The township, Washington Water Power (Avista), C. M. Ralph Construction Company, Nine Mile Falls School and the Community Club all pitched in with money and labor.  Five hundred twenty man-hours of community labor along with $4,400 rehabilitated the school well, constructed a pump house and equipment storage building.    The ball field and recreation area were created with over 300 hours of donated labor of cutting trees, bulldozing and burning stumps, rock picking, leveling and grass seeding.   The country then installed a sprinkler system and the Community Club purchased the backstop.  Finally Nine Mile School had a ball field and the community was able to have a Little League team.

The 1969 ceremony that dedicated the new park at Nine Mile as Sontag Park recognized that the very existence of the park was due to the untiring efforts of Harold and Margaret Sontag.  Margaret and Harold spearheaded the Nine Mile Community Club in pursuing Harold's vision of a school playground and park on state land adjoining Nine Mile School.   In 1968, after years of effort, the State Parks and Recreation Commission executed a use permit that granted Spokane County perpetual use of fifty-four acres of land for a park along with an additional ten acres transferred to Nine Mile School for a playground.

The county committed to matching donated labor with dollars to develop the park.   The township, Washington Water Power (Avista), C. M. Ralph Construction Company, Nine Mile Falls School and the Community Club all pitched in with money and labor.  Five hundred twenty man-hours of community labor along with $4,400 rehabilitated the school well, constructed a pump house and equipment storage building.    The ball field and recreation area were created with over 300 hours of donated labor of cutting trees, bulldozing and burning stumps, rock picking, leveling and grass seeding.   The country then installed a sprinkler system and the Community Club purchased the backstop.  Finally Nine Mile School had a ball field and the community was able to have a Little League team.

In 1970 the rest rooms and shelter were built with a donation of $3,500 from Washington Water Power, locally donated material and labor and the Park Department supplying the shingles for the shelter.   The Park Department developed the parking lot, installed bleachers and three drinking fountains.

It had always been the plan of the Community Club to also have tennis courts in the park.  In 1971 County Parks estimated the county would allocate $5,000 toward the courts.   The community once more pitched in to clear and prepare the land.   Additional work was done in 1975.   Finally in 1978, the Community Club was advised their share would be $3,500.   Having only $2,700 on hand, Margaret appealed to County Commissioner Jerry Kopet and he obtained the additional $800.   The black top was laid and the fence installed in 1980.  In 1982, the lines were drawn and the net installed.

Prior to the dedication of the park, community residents circulated petitions requesting the park be named Sontag Park in recognition of the perseverance of Margaret and Harold.   The Community Club files are filled with copies of letters and records of phone conversations from Margaret to various County officials.   Harold rallied the community to participate in the work parties over the years and the two of them were the driving force behind fund-raising events.  

Of everything Sontags accomplished at Nine Mile, the park was rightfully their proudest achievement.

Update on Auction of Excess Park Properties at Riverside State Park and Mount Spokane State Park

A public meeting was held on May 17, 2005 at Riverside State Park (RSP) headquarters to discuss the proposed disposal of surplus property surrounding Mount Spokane and Riverside State Parks. ALL surplus properties had been identified as being outside the long term park management boundaries in Classification and Management Plan (CAMP) meetings held in the respective parks in 1998 and 1999 and previously approved by the Parks Commission as being appropriate for surplus or exchange.  The public meeting notices were mailed to several hundred park neighbors and to people who had previously expressed interest in parkland surplusing issues. The meeting notices did not include adequate maps or descriptions of the parcels and consequently a large number of concerned people attended fearing the worst.

In Riverside State Park, all but 2 of the 9 parcels to be auctioned are small isolated slivers. The Charles Tormey Road parcel is a 35 acre parcel on the south side of Charles Rd opposite Hedin Rd. It's importance as a key recreational property has increased since the CAMP 'excess' decision, partly due to the possibility that an adjoining 280 acre parcel to the south may be purchased as part of the 2005 Spokane County Conservation Futures Program. This parcel will not be auctioned in the first batch, and may be withdrawn entirely from the disposal process.  Staff will recommend the Commission remove this parcel from the planned phase II sale. 

Park staff expect to sell the property at public auction using the sealed bid format in two batches. The first sale will be held around August and will include all the parcels EXCEPT the Holcomb Road, Nelson Road, Old Trails Road, and Charles Tormey Road properties. These properties will be disposed of in batch #2 expected to be held in late 2005.

Park staff are finishing up putting together bidder information packages (legals, property overviews, title reports, etc) and will establish minimum bid values (land and timber) for the parcels. They will then mail bidder packages to all interested parties, put an auction notice (with the date of auction) in the paper. Best guess right now is holding an auction around Aug. 15. Depending on the number of inquiries, and evolving details of the Phase II disposal process, there should be one more public meeting around the planned Aug. 15 auction date. The next public meeting will provide details on the phase II sales (Nelson road, Holcomb road, Lake Newport, Old Trails road parcels). Parks Commission direction on Phase II sales will be defined at the August Parks Commission meeting.

If you have questions about the parcels, process, or wish to receive a bid package, contact the Parks Lands Manager Steve Hahn via email at Steve.Hahn@Parks.Wa.Gov or phone him at 360 902-8622. 

Use the field guides, binoculars, compass, and activity suggestions in the backpack to explore the wildlife, plant life, and geology unique to Riverside. Half day: $3 or Full day: $5.