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Newsletter
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Newsletter |
AUGUST 2009 | |||
| 9711 W Charles Road, Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026 | ||||
I believe that everyone reading this newsletter agrees that Riverside State Park is a gem. It provides so many recreational opportunities for our local citizens and visitors to the area and is a wealth of natural and cultural resources. That brings us to the subject of this article. Many people, many opportunities, many activities, many ideas and few resources. I am an equestrian so I spend most of my time in the park on horseback. At times I really wonder why there are not more people enjoying the area as sometimes I do not see anyone. However, as quiet as the park is on some days the park staff is faced with limited resources as they try to balance the needs and desires of all the park stakeholders. This becomes more of a challenge when large events are held in the park, or simply pass through the park. These events have an impact on the park staff, the physical resources of the park, park neighbors and the general public that is using the park at the same time. The park is such a great place to hold some of these events and the staff wants to do everything possible to accommodate these groups. However they also have a responsibility to the resources and other stakeholders as the park is intended to stay open to the general public. The challenge, balance the demands on the park to the best interest of the community, all stake holders and the resources available. Parks staff can best do this through a Special Activity Permit Application. This helps Park staff clearly understand what the event will entail, how it will impact the park and other users, what resources are required, communicate to the applicant their responsibilities and establish the appropriate fee. If you are using the park while large events are occurring, or are an event organizer, or participant, we all need to recognize the need to balance the use of the park and be aware that other activities take place in the park. Personally, when I am aware of an event on a particular day I find it best to ride in the other direction that day. Sometimes we need to adjust in the best interest of the group. If you are an event participant we all appreciate your consideration of others you encounter on the trail. If you are an event organizer the park staff, and the general public, appreciates your effort to complete the Special Activity Permit Application accurately and every effort you make to organize and control the event in a manner that limits the impact on the park and general public. Special Activity Permit Applications can be obtained, and comments about special events in the park can be made, by contacting the park office at 465-5064. |
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Spokane Triathlon
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As noted in the first page article on "Events in the Park," Riverside State Park hosts many special events. One of these, the "Spokane Triathlon," will be held on Sunday, September 13. It will begin at 7:00 a.m. with a 1.5 km swim in Lake Spokane (aka Long Lake), followed by a 40 km bike race along Charles and South Bank Roads, and ending with a 10 km run along trails with a scenic view of the Spokane River. The cost is $75 for individual entries. In addition to prize money of $100 for the first place male and female, there are other prizes and trophies for club and college teams. There is a limit on the number allowed to participate in this event, so if you are interested in competing register soon. All information for the Spokane Triathlon is at www.spokanetriathlon.com or contact Ryan Lee at Spokanetriathlon@gmail.com or 509-999-9487. |
Among the many special events held at Riverside this past summer, was a one-day orienteering event June 23 that was part the 2009 Pacific Northwest Orienteering Festival. The 2009 PNWOF included other events in south Idaho, at Fishtrap Lake and near Cle Elum, Washington, between June 19 and June 28. "Classic" orienteering courses involve using a map and compass to navigate over courses ranging in length from 4 kilometers to 10 kilometers, depending on the age category. But the event at Riverside consisted of two "sprints," 2.37 and 2.09 kilometers in length, so the competitors run much faster than in classic events. The sprints attracted 89 competitors from throughout the United States and Canada including a Junior ROTC contingent of 19 from Texas. Canadians Patrick Goeres and Magnus Johansson were first and second among the men, with total times for the two courses of 25:01 and 26:47, respectively. John Goodwin, from Connecticut, was third with a total time of 30:30. The top women were Debbie Newell, Seattle (39:45), Carol Ross, Vancouver BC (40:11), and Kelsey Breseman, Seattle (40:30). There were also shorter courses 1.34 km and 1.44 km long for younger orienteers. Fourteen-year-old Michael Laraia from Wisconsin won with a total time of 22:23, followed by Jodi Rickel from Tucson with a time of 24:21, with ten-year-old Julia Dobson, from Berkeley, CA, not far behind, with a total time of 25:03. This event was to benefit the U.S. Orienteering team, which represents the United States in international competition, and raised $628 to support the team. For information about local orienteering events, go to www.ewoc.org |