Public invited to weigh in on expansion opportunities at Riverside State Park

SPOKANE – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) invites the public to provide feedback and participate in conversations about a potential expansion of Riverside State Park to incorporate a property, newly acquired by Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, and known as “Glen Tana.”   

The agency is now entering the second stage of its planning effort, which includes evaluation of a set of alternatives developed from the feedback it received during public meetings in the fall of 2023. 

During this stage, the Parks planning team will suggest approaches to address the various issues and ideas raised by the public. The public is invited to learn about the range of possibilities, which include the long-term boundary update for Riverside and land classifications. 

Input on the alternatives presented will inform a preliminary recommendation, which will be presented to the public this Summer. 

Public workshop info 

Parks invites the public to participate at its in-person public workshop: 

April 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. 

Saint George’s School 

2929 West Waikiki Road

Spokane, WA 99208 

For those who cannot attend in person, a recording of the planning workshop presentation is available on the project website, along with an online survey and public comment form, to share your feedback with us. 

Background 

In partnership with Inland Northwest Land Conservancy (Conservancy) and the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Parks is pursuing an opportunity to acquire part of the 1,000-acre Glen Tana parcel for the environmental stewardship of riparian and upland habitat, expanded recreational access in a high-demand and near urban location and support of salmon reintroduction efforts.  

The Glen Tana property was purchased by the Conservancy in August 2023 to protect the land and river from development in perpetuity. The Conservancy will serve as an interim owner while the Spokane Tribe of Indians and Washington State Parks secure the funding to acquire portions of the land that they will own and manage.  

To open the opportunity to acquire this parcel in the future, Parks must first complete a Classification and Management Plan (CAMP). CAMP is a multi-staged public planning process that identifies issues and opportunities, explores alternative approaches and makes recommendations for park land classifications. The CAMP process does not include the acquisition of the parcel. Instead, it determines a long-term park boundary and identifies lands that further the recreation and conservation mission of a park.  

Parks plans to make an official designation for the parcel by late fall of 2024.