SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Parks and Recreation and Spokane Public Schools (SPS) are working together to enhance outdoor spaces and provide more opportunities for youth engagement.
Garrett Jones, Director of Parks and Recreation, sees the partnership as a natural fit with the school district’s mission to keep kids active outside the classroom.
“I think now with that mission alignment, and what the school district is trying to do with every kid being engaged outside of the classroom is a natural fit for us,” said Jones.
SPS Superintendent Adam Swinyard emphasized that collaborating with Parks and Rec will help address the growing demand for play spaces by adding new fields for youth programs.
“We’re out of court spaces; we’re out of fields. We need those types of infrastructure enhancements in order to meet that increasing demand,” said Swinyard
The original park levy planned to add three new parks in Shiloh Hills, North Indian Trail, and Latah neighborhoods, along with renovations to Minnehaha, Harmon, and Grant parks. However, Jones believes the partnership will allow for expanded benefits by utilizing resources more efficiently.
“The fundamental foundation is the same, but what we can do together is going to be expanded to where we didn’t think we could do in our existing plan and vice versa with SPS,” Jones said.
City Council member Bingle expressed concerns about delaying the levy, as it would require additional taxpayer funding for the school district.
However, Swinyard argued that the combined resources of the Parks and Recreation Department and the school district would make the initiative more cost-effective.
“How can Spokane be a smarter, healthier, and happier city? One of the ways we do that is through partnerships rather than in isolation,” Swinyard said.
The Spokane City Council will decide in December whether to delay the levy vote.
A previous version of this story mentioned a dollar amount associated with this levy proposal. That was for a previous levy proposal. We regret the error.
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