Riverfront dog park to be built next year

Construction of Spokane’s next dog park is expected to begin in mid-2025 and wrap up two to three months later.

Paw Park, as it has been named, will be located on nearly 1 acre of space at the east end of Havermale Island in Riverfront Park, next to the Lilac Bowl and about a quarter-mile east of the iconic U.S. Pavilion.

“(Paw Park) will be fairly small in size, and so as a result of that, we look to provide some high-quality amenities,” says Nick Hamad, park planning and development manager at Spokane Parks & Recreation.

Paw Park will feature ornamental fencing, allowing for off-leash dogs, and will have dedicated entry and exit gates, he says. There will be a covered shelter space, as well as two separate areas for small dogs and large dogs.

“We always want to provide different areas for each of those dogs,” Hamad says.

Most of the dog park will be surfaced with artificial turf, and there will be agility and play structures for dogs. Potable water also will be available for both dogs and people, Hamad adds.

Construction of Paw Park carries an estimated cost of $750,000, all of which will come from the Riverfront Park capital campaign.

“That’s a partnership between city of Spokane Parks and the Spokane Parks Foundation that was initiated during the Riverfront bond process,” Hamad says. “These are all donated funds.”

Spokane Humane Society donated $250,000—the largest single donation toward the dog park.

The Spokane office of AHBL Inc. is providing engineering and architectural services for the project. A contractor hasn’t been selected yet.

The site of the new dog park has been underutilized, Hamad says.

“The initial Riverfront Park master plan called for activation on this eastern portion of Riverfront Park,” he says, referring to the 2014 master plan.

Paw Park will be the fourth dog park that the city operates.

“This will be a totally different type of facility than the other three that we have in our system,” Hamad says. “We’re looking forward to serving people who are living downtown and visiting downtown.”

The other city-owned dog parks are the High Bridge Dog Park, at 330 S. A Street; the South Hill Dog Park, at the southwest corner of 63rd Avenue and Regal Street; and the Riverside Dog Park, at the junction of Sprague and Riverside avenues on the west end of downtown.

Hamad says Paw Park typically will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., or sometimes later, and will be locked up overnight.