Commission approves 30-year easement and land-classification change for Spokane River Riverview trail

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission on July 9 approved a request from the City of Spokane Valley to reclassify 4.3 acres of Spokane River Centennial Trail property and authorized staff to grant a 30-year easement over 16 acres to the city for development of an accessible Riverview walking trail, viewpoints, benches and forest-health and wildfire-mitigation treatments.

Nikki Fields, real estate and planning program manager for State Parks, described the request as two linked actions: (1) change land classification on about 4.3 acres from "resource recreation" to "recreation" so higher-intensity trail development and managed viewpoints can be allowed, and (2) authorize the director to execute a 30-year easement for approximately 16 acres to Spokane Valley for trail construction, vegetation management and monitoring. Fields said the easement would generate $58,194 in revenue for State Parks and that most of the trail would follow an existing primitive road; only about 575 linear feet would be new ground disturbance.

John Battelle, director of parks and recreation for the City of Spokane Valley, told the commission the parking that visitors would use is on city property, and that trail access would be available from the developed lot adjacent to Flora Park. He said the city has coordinated environmental review, tribal consultation and a shoreline permitting process tied to the EIS addendum.

Commissioners asked about impacts to sensitive lands, ADA accessibility (most of the State Parks-owned portion is ADA-accessible; a short 44-foot portion on city land may not meet ADA without redesign), and ongoing monitoring and noxious-weed control; staff said monitoring would be conducted annually for years 1-5 and that native shrub plantings and temporary fencing would discourage social trails to the river.

Motion and outcome: Commissioner [moved] the staff recommendation to authorize the director to grant the 30-year easement and approve the land-classification change; the motion was seconded, called, and approved by voice vote.

Effect: The action opens a largely underused parcel to public river views and provides State Parks with revenue and forest-health treatments funded and implemented by the city under the easement terms. Staff emphasized there will be no permanent structures or new river-access points on State Parks land as part of this project.