[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6278293,"mediaKeyId","2641578-aa15b020f0c80a5c75872ecee60b48b4","parentId",2641578,"title","Parks and Spokane Public Schools outline 'Together Spokane' partnership to fund 200+ neighborhood projects","audioSeconds",1093,"startMs",504000,"endMs",1597000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2641578-aa15b020f0c80a5c75872ecee60b48b4&start=504&end=1597","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2641578-aa15b020f0c80a5c75872ecee60b48b4/thumbnail_504000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6278293/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Parks-and-Spokane-Public-Schools-outline-Together-Spokane-partnership-to-fund-200-neighborhood-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278293-d1eee74a6b891e228654a843f5ab8ba8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201109&Signature=VqI6X4tJP3554K0B4y-Dnil3gz~IqoKdX-fV666gW9dGiNtK68CqbZRpt~23W4~FE2LhMAEgvLrvK7OKOH1L8-zxgzWf1al6WITkqyEVD2uXezDmbN~PMWCsk2KGvt7tdwCnZT-xuEqWJFhz1GYpddUKtJ8Sn9XHCrHMmLoe~KYRCe15XGrcnAUl8cqFDmVp5UP6TdNF41-gBSfmq88qk5z9eIZcKz2MWnO9mCneaRnyjImQMEbW-ef4sUegzt8ETEslRHFK2TOu6z6IVTD6mi9R7MkRKQlbHFPt6cBTpxGws3fJWQxQtlUAlIdavra4qH65sh7DtBp1gREI5LCP7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane City, WA","date","2025-03-14T17:14:11Z","article","Spokane Parks staff presented the Together Spokane partnership on March 13, a coordinated program pairing a parks levy and a Spokane Public Schools bond for the November 2025 ballot that aims to fund more than 200 projects across the city by combining resources and joint planning.

Mr. Jones, presenting the parks component, said the partnership is intended to expand on the parks master plan and to “act on that, rather than just sitting on a plan,” adding that the joint effort touches “every single neighborhood, every single park, every single school.” He said combining the parks levy and the school bond reduces duplicative costs and adds roughly 30 additional projects to what parks could fund on its own.

Staff showed a map and a booklet of project lists (distributed to board members) and described guiding priorities: increasing all‑weather, lit fields to expand evening and off‑season use; doubling field capacity at the Dwight Merkel (Merkle) Sports Complex; working with partners on the Ferris High School Sports Complex; opening school grounds as public parks after hours and weekends; constructing a five‑court indoor recreation center with joint programming and parking; expanding access to indoor pools for swim lessons and therapeutic programs; and investing in playgrounds, restrooms, trailheads, natural lands management and water‑efficient irrigation upgrades.

Jones summarized financial impacts staff presented: if parks and schools went separately, the combined cost to taxpayers would have been more than 31 cents per $1,000 of assessed value; the joint approach initially reduced that to 29 cents per $1,000 in the first year. During the presentation staff later said the combined effort and partner commitments reduced the estimate to about 27 cents per $1,000. Staff also told the board they have pledged roughly $11,000,000 in partnership dollars during the quiet phase of outreach.

A short video shown at the meeting communicated an example homeowner cost: the presentation said a $330,000 home would pay just under $8 per month in 2026 for both measures combined and included a breakdown in the video of the parks and schools share of that monthly cost.

Jones emphasized stakeholder feedback used to shape featured projects and operational commitments: increased funding for Merkle maintenance staff tied to field expansion; more park rangers and vandalism/cleanup funding; enhancements to restroom maintenance; and targeting three new neighborhood parks in high‑need areas (North Indian Trail, Meadow Glen and Shiloh Hills). He said three major park renovations were planned for Minnehaha, Grant and Harmon parks and listed other systemwide improvements (14 renovated sports courts, five trailhead upgrades, natural lands restoration and fuel‑mitigation work where natural lands interface with neighborhoods).

Jones described next steps and a timeline: draft ballot resolutions will be prepared for Park Board endorsement and City Council consideration. The City Council Urban Experience Committee is scheduled to discuss the program April 14; Park Board will review a resolution at its April 16 meeting; school board action is expected on a parallel schedule; and City Council is expected to take a final vote at its first meeting in May. Jones said staff will follow this with an extensive community outreach plan focusing on neighborhood events and an interactive website with maps and a tax calculator.

Board members and staff emphasized the partnership as a strategy to stretch taxpayer dollars, expand access to school facilities after hours, and accelerate deferred maintenance across the park system. No formal board action was required at the March 13 briefing; staff requested direction and public feedback as they finalize ballot materials and outreach.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 13th, 2025 Spokane Park Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City parks staff and Spokane Public Schools presented Together Spokane, a paired parks levy and school bond proposal for the November 2025 ballot that aligns more than 200 projects across neighborhoods, reduces the per‑$1,000 tax rate through shared resources, and advances maintenance, new parks, recreation facilities and joint school‑park uses.","taxTitle","Spokane, Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2644,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6278298,"Park board approves 10-year naming-rights lease for Spokane Pavilion with GISA Credit Union",2325,1989000,4314000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2641578-aa15b020f0c80a5c75872ecee60b48b4&start=1989&end=4314","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2641578-aa15b020f0c80a5c75872ecee60b48b4/thumbnail_1989000.jpg","/articles/6278298/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Park-board-approves-10-year-naming-rights-lease-for-Spokane-Pavilion-with-GISA-Credit-Union","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278298-67db7514e30c172a0ee5c287ed91e275/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201109&Signature=QnRZGS-ciTSaO9VHjGZnMENhHhw-8HWpkZYDmrYtSXvyuPv1PnsrnaBlJ9ulHwDO2mi023aY64KK-QDIKMD~Tyq8-XOV8rZYbrLjaa6kIFCvzi-irspvKFng6eivUYdmfC8jxixpZXpGtOC~-c3p~Aez9Kfcdl4mvLiTmm7XF5cF1UXKWcyXM75Vh~Lka53A1Z2tMeNzw5p-JFueIy8kl1N-4~JEEz7~6a4cV0fQCEWUruFBwPS33S5IaKMW13YqnbC9-HefoLOkLkZDAZtyBeiIbJdBmP7VxodOMfXI4cbjyRIWMVzMhPlEFrXCvII5AFg7kS2O4zvmwO2OZWT0rA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spokane Park Board unanimously approved a 10-year naming-rights agreement on March 13 to rename the Spokane Pavilion for GISA Credit Union, authorizing a contract that pays the city $230,000 in year one with a 3% annual escalator and a $50,000 annual activation contribution held by the sponsor.

The vote follows a multi-year outreach and procurement effort and staff presentations that framed the agreement as a way to generate sustainable, predictable revenue to subsidize free and low-cost programming at Riverfront Park. John Moak, Director of Riverfront Spokane, said the pavilion naming-rights effort traces to the park master plan’s directive to “generate sustainable revenue,” and described the contract terms, outreach and an activation plan that the partner will fund.

Moak told the board the signed agreement runs 10 years with a five-year extension option, and that the sponsor will pay $230,000 in the first year with a 3% escalator thereafter. The partner will also provide a $50,000 annual activation contribution “to actively promote and activate the pavilion to the community,” Moak said. He added the city expects about $190,000 per year net to Riverfront Park after the sales commission to the third‑party broker.

The agreement gives the sponsor exclusive rights in the financial‑services category, a sign package limited by municipal code to about 675 square feet (staff told the board the primary sign will likely be on the large concrete wall facing the promenade or Washington Street and cannot face the river), and a menu of marketing and activation benefits the partner will receive. Those benefits include waived rental fees for one annual sponsor event, installation of one ATM, up to 10 promotional activations per year, 100 complimentary attraction tickets and eight pavilion‑concert tickets per concert. The agreement also permits the sponsor to collaborate on programming such as free concerts and community events.

Moak summarized why the park is pursuing sponsorships now: “This is a roadmap of where we need to go for 20 years,” and the master plan language he read to the board calls for expanded revenue streams that can support low‑cost programming and broad public access to park amenities. He said the pavilion’s community engagement subsidy currently runs roughly $85,000 to $150,000 per year and that the agreement will stabilize funding for programming and activations.

During public comment, resident Chris Wright said he supported the contract, calling it “a good stewardship” and urging the board to “maximize your economic opportunities.” New board member Lindsay Shaw expressed discomfort with selling the pavilion’s name and urged staff and the board to keep exploring revenue options and to ensure the public retains access. Several long‑serving board members, including the finance committee chair Bob Anderson, said naming rights are a lease rather than a sale and argued the pavilion generates limited revenue on its own while operating costs continue to rise.

Board member Jerry (moved the motion) said the lease language preserves public access and that sponsorships on other venues do not erase the public names used colloquially. Jonathan seconded the motion. The board voted and the motion passed unanimously; the transcript records the motion as approved with all members present responding “Aye.”

John Moak and staff acknowledged Superlative Group, the firm that supported the city’s solicitation and negotiations, and introduced the sponsor at the meeting: Brandon Allison, assistant vice president of community impact for GISA Credit Union, who described GISA’s community investments and said the credit union will partner with parks to expand programming and community events.

The agreement requires sign design and placement consistent with municipal code; staff said sign costs will be paid by the sponsor and the city will collaborate on permitting and placement. Moak told the board the activation money is not city general fund money but a sponsor investment to add programming and promotional support to Riverfront Park.

Board members asked that a copy of the contract be circulated to members; one board member noted they did not yet have the contract in email and requested staff ensure board members receive it.

The board’s approval authorizes staff to finalize the naming‑rights contract consistent with the terms presented and begin implementation with the sponsor, including activations and signage that comply with city code. Staff said the revenue will be earmarked to support Riverfront Park programming and activation in line with the park master plan.","The Spokane Park Board on March 13 approved a 10-year naming-rights agreement with GISA Credit Union for the Spokane Pavilion. The contract pays $230,000 in year one with a 3% annual escalator, includes a $50,000 annual activation contribution, and is intended to fund free and low-cost programming at Riverfront Park.","actionData","errors"]

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Parks and Spokane Public Schools outline 'Together Spokane' partnership to fund 200+ neighborhood projects

Park board approves 10-year naming-rights lease for Spokane Pavilion with GISA Credit Union