SPOKANE, Wash. — A local group is working to make sure everybody has access to the different trails and parks around Spokane’s South Hill.
On the South Hill, there are many access points to the High Drive Bluff.
“The bluff has the prettiest view,” said Silas Johnson who uses the Bluff Trail Network.
In 2017, Friends of the Bluff, an organization that helps maintain the area, discovered another access point: a 30 foot city-owned right of way off of South Hatch Road. At the end of this right of way is a steep path that connects to the many trails below.
In order to make the path easier for people to get down, Friends of the Bluff is working with Spokane Parks to get stairs put in.
“We want to have stairs in there so that the average walker with average abilities is able to access the southern end of the bluff where all those trails are,” said Dorothy Tibbetts, the point person for the Rocket Gulch project.
Tibbetts says after working with an engineering and landscape architecture firm, Spokane Parks has approved the design for the stairs.
“The city approved those plans and now we’re actually fundraising to hopefully carry it over that finish line in 2025,” Tibbetts said.
While many South Hill residents are fans of the project, some are concerned this will cause congestion on the road and lead to vandalism of the private properties near the trail. However, Tibbetts said they are making sure to consider everyone’s concerns.
“We’re being very mindful of any impact to the immediate property owners who might be impacted by this project,” she said.
Friends of the Bluff is now working to raise money for the project. It estimates the project will cost around $100,000 and is asking for donations on its website.
“I think it’s really important that Spokane continues to develop urban green spaces,” Tibbetts said.
Tibbetts said they hope to do that one staircase at a time.
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