April - 2016

Dutch Jake's Park Clean-up

Dutch Jake's Park Clean-up

On April 9 we partnered with the Emerging Leaders Society of United Way to host a park clean-up in honor of our friend and Board member, Jen Hussey. We were thrilled when 45 people showed up ready to get to work and make the world better in Jen's honor. Her coworkers from Premera were there, along with her friends and family, and representatives from the United Way - all joined with ELS and the Foundation to honor Jen in the best way we knew how...by gathering people together

Learning While Doing

Learning While Doing

Jessica Sems is an amazing young woman - everyone who meets her knows that. We have been fortunate to have her as part of the Spokane Parks Foundation for the last two years. As she gets ready to graduate, I thought it was time to for you to get to know her a bit better. Why were you interested in working for the Parks Foundation? I fell in love with the community of Spokane. Even on its worst snow days, beauty still shines through the nature and its people. I wanted to work

2015 Financials

2015 Financials

2015 was a banner year for the Spokane Parks Foundation. We made over 16,000 swims available to the community, funded 291 swim lessons and paid for a week of free swimming in pools throughout Spokane County. We provided almost $20,000 in support for park projects and programs. We handed out 1,000 knapsacks and goodies designed to get kids active in the parks. We began a partnership with the Spokane Regional Health District to ensure that parks become active tools in the healt

Program Expansion Planned

Program Expansion Planned

We are thrilled to be able to expand our traditional Make A Splash In A Kid's Life program to include not only Free Swim Fridays all summer long, but also a Free Swim Clinic on Saturday, June 11. As Kevin Eddy, our Make A Splash In A Kid's Life chair, says, "We feel that it is vital that we teach kids at least basic water safety skills. We want kids to enjoy the pools through our pool passes and free swim days, and we want to help them be safe while swimming.” The Free Swim C

Establishing a Legacy

Establishing a Legacy

The name Hamblen has been closely connected to Spokane’s parks for over a century. Laurence Hamblen was named to the City of Spokane Park Board in 1912, elected Park Board president in 1930 and held that role until his death in 1956. As Park Board president he appointed a committee in January 1951 to work on the creation of a foundation to support parks and recreation in Spokane – the Spokane Parks Foundation. Laurence Hamblen was elected as one of the Foundation’s first Boar

2016 Grant Awards

2016 Grant Awards

Each year, the Spokane Parks Foundation invests in community-driven initiatives and park department programs that enhance public parks and support educational and recreational activities throughout Spokane County. Any park and recreation department or community-based group with a park project or program within Spokane County may apply. We give priority to projects and programs that demonstrate active and committed community involvement, and exhibit creativity and innovation i

Happy 125th Coeur d'Alene Park!

Happy 125th Coeur d'Alene Park!

The historic photos that we have of Coeur d'Alene Park recall idyllic days of strolls in Sunday best, brass bands playing in the band stand, and beds bursting with flowers. But it wasn't always that perfect. The City's first park was founded in 1891 - and almost closed five years later due to vandalism and limited park funds. But then, as now, the surrounding neighborhood stepped in to save the park. Neighbors cleaned the small lake, built the bandstand and brought in large f

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