SPOKANE, Wash – For most of Spokane’s history, a bridge has carried people and goods across the Spokane River at Post Street. Now, a coalition including Spokane’s current and former mayors wants to rename the bridge to honor a man who championed the gorge that runs underneath it.
The planning commission will consider a request next week to move forward an effort to rename the bridge after Dr. John Moyer.
Moyer was a physician who served in both the Washington House of Representatives and Washington State Senate.
He co-founded Friends of the Falls, which developed the Great Spokane River Gorge Strategic Master Plan to preserve the stretch of river that runs through downtown Spokane.
“The impact of the work of Dr. Moyer and the Friends of the Falls is everlasting,” wrote Mayor Lisa Brown in her letter supporting the renaming of the bridge.
Former mayors David Condon and John Powers also wrote letters of support of honoring Dr. Moyer and Friends of the Falls.
“This remarkable group spearheaded the creation of a master plan that inspired and catalyzed numerous features we cherish today, including the ‘Gathering Place’ plaza, the Sandifur pedestrian bridge and the newly unveiled ‘Gorge Loop Trail’ and breathtaking reimaged [sic] of Huntington Park,” wrote former mayor David Condon.
“Naming the bridge in their honor is a testament to their enduring impact on our community and a celebration of the vision and dedication that have shaped Spokane’s identity,” Condon wrote.
A letter of support also came from Jim Frank, founder of the Greenstone Corporation.
Frank says the group’s work highlighted the possibility for development on the north bank of the river, where Greenstone developed Kendall Yards.
The idea for the name change is also supported by Spokane Preservation Advocates, saying “This act would honor the grassroots effort that helped preserve one of Spokane’s most cherished landscapes for the enjoyment of our entire community.”
The measure would be an honorary name change of the bridge; Post Street would not be renamed.
The planning commission will decide next week whether to send the matter to the full city council for consideration.
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