SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Bear Lake Regional Park, one of Spokane County’s most beloved parks, has officially reopened to the public after a year-long closure for renovations.
The park, located approximately 30 minutes north of downtown Spokane near Chattaroy, underwent significant safety and accessibility improvements during the closure period.
These critical upgrades come nearly two years after Frederich “Fred” Bartlo Margiotta, a disabled veteran, had a terrifying experience at the park years ago.
“It was very terrifying,” Margiotta recalled of the incident.
Margiotta came to Bear Lake for the same reason many visitors do: to find a fishing spot and relax with a friend. The docks were overcrowded that day, so he found a spot across the way on a retaining wall.
“And it just gave way. And the kids started yelling ‘Fred, Fred, Fred!'” Margiotta said.
The incident sent him into the water where he was completely submerged and unable to get out of his wheelchair.
“All I can remember is holding my breath and not being able to get out,” he recalled.
Fortunately, his friend pulled him out, and four more strangers jumped into action to pull his chair from the water.
His story made the rounds, leading county officials to take action and revamp the park.
For the past year, access to Bear Lake has been shut down while county officials made renovations. They tore down that retaining wall, added more access points to the shoreline, and overall made the entire area more accessible and safer for everyone.
The improvements include:
– A fully paved path around Bear Lake
– Three renovated bathrooms
– Multiple new fishing piers
– Several new beaches and access points
– ADA Parking options
– New picnic shelter
Overall, signigicantly better accommodations for disabled community members to explore the park.
“I wanted to cry. Very emotional to see what they’d done to the lake and knowing it’s safer for more people,” Margiotta said during the reopening.
Margiotta was invited to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where he got a tour of the new and improved park and had the honor of cutting the ribbon.
“They’ve come a long ways for the disabled. They have come a long ways,” Margiotta added, reflecting on the improvements made to accommodate people with disabilities.
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