Occupying four city blocks and just under 10 acres, this was Spokane's
first public park, having been established in 1891. Land for the park was donated to the city by A, M. Cannon and his wife Jennie (the south half) and J. J. Browne (the north half). This is a beautiful and fully mature old park set in an even older neighbourhood, in its time the most desirable in the city. It came dangerously close to being closed in 1896. If one were to believe that vandalism is solely a contemporary problem, perhaps this news article, from the Spokane Daily Chronicle, published on March 18, 1896, will convince one otherwise:
May Close the Park
the small boys had been there. They clambered over the barriers at the gates; they had pulled the pickets from the fence and crawled through; they had gone in anyway to get in. They had plugged the artisan little lake full of old books, retired shoes, deceased cats, and tomato cans with labels, long since out of print.
The article went on to list other acts of destruction. Fortunately, the park didn't close and instead the city built a bandstand, following that with flowers, two large flower pots from the Chicago World's Fair, lawn plantings, ornamental shrubbery, a fish pond and a beautiful onion domed band pavilion. That pavilion/gazebo did not stand the test of time, the present one being a replica of the original. It is a gorgeous pavilion/gazebo, though; it will be found in the centre of the park.
Though we're not certain that the old stone rest room building is original, it certainly has the proper appearance to suggest that it is as old as the park.
Amenities:
• Tennis Courts
• Basketball
• Splash Pads
• Picnic Tables
• Playground Equipment
• Restrooms
• Barbecue Area
