Spokane opens North Loop Trail as partners secure roughly 100 acres for Palisades Park

Spokane officials and conservation partners on Saturday formally opened the North Loop Trail at Palisades Park, marking the transfer and protection of roughly 100 acres added to the park after a multidecade campaign that relied on private donors, volunteer ‘‘angel’’ land purchases and Spokane County’s Conservation Futures program.

The celebration included a tribal blessing from Devin Peone of the Spokane Tribe, remarks from city and conservation leaders and a ceremonial ribbon cutting attended by the Friends of Palisades, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, Washington Trails Association and other partner groups.

The gathering recognized a long series of land acquisitions and donations that Craig Voisin of Friends of Palisades traced back to the early 1990s. ‘‘That was the first process,’’ Voisin said, recounting the 1991–92 acquisitions that he said connected Indian Canyon Natural Area to Palisades Park and planted the ‘‘seed’’ for later expansion. He credited neighbors and donors who held parcels until they could be nominated for conservation funding.

Dave Schaub, director of Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, said the project illustrated ‘‘legacy, vision, courage, and generosity’’ and noted the conservation nomination ranked first in the most recent round of the Conservation Futures program. ‘‘With his support and his help, we managed to secure the remaining parcels, bundle them all together,’’ Schaub said, describing the land-bundling and funding process that led to transfer to city parks.

Garrett Jones, director of Spokane Parks and Recreation, said the expansion is included in the department’s master plan and its upcoming park levy, which allocates acquisition dollars and funds for natural land management. Jones thanked partner groups and volunteers for helping prevent private development on parcels adjacent to the park.

Voisin described how individuals and ‘‘angel’’ buyers — including Kyle and Rachel Baird, Brian and Gail Hunter, and Becky Brown and Chris Lambiotti — purchased parcels and held them until they could be conserved. He said additional donations and a coordinated nomination to the Conservation Futures program enabled funding to purchase and transfer the land to city parks.

Friends of Palisades and partners also constructed the North Loop Trail in short volunteer work sessions. Voisin said volunteers built the trail ‘‘in two Saturdays last fall and two Saturdays this spring’’ and described the route as a keyhole-shaped loop suitable for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking; he said the short loop takes about 35–40 minutes and a longer loop about an hour.

Devin Peone of the Spokane Tribe offered a blessing at the ceremony, saying, ‘‘We’re thankful for today, for this gathering here, for all of us to honor this land’’ and asking that the land remain ‘‘for our kids and our kids’ kids.’’ Voisin said the Friends of Palisades sought tribal guidance on heritage markers and signage to recognize the Spokane Tribe’s longstanding connection to the site.

Mayor Lisa Brown called the expansion ‘‘one of those full circle moments’’ and urged continued investment in natural-land conservation, saying Spokane should ‘‘double down’’ on preserving places like Palisades for future generations.

The event was ceremonial; no formal legislative action or vote occurred at the ceremony. Officials characterized the outcome as a completed conservation acquisition with an open trail and discussed ongoing stewardship and maintenance responsibilities for the parks department and volunteer partners.

Those interested in volunteering with park stewardship or learning more about trail access were directed to Friends of Palisades and Spokane Parks and Recreation.