Spokane Valley delegation seeks $250,000 for Valparais Park lighting to extend hours and events

City presenters asked state legislators on Nov. 17 for $250,000 to install lighting and audio infrastructure at Valparais Park, saying the work would extend usable hours for basketball and pickleball courts and support larger community events.

"We're requesting 250,000 to provide lighting for basketball and pickleball courts and audibly and audio recording," said the presenter (Unidentified Speaker S2), describing the request as part of a park expansion master plan. The presenter said the park serves about 13,000 residents within a one-mile radius, including roughly 750 households below the poverty line and about 1,400 households with a disability.

Council members and attendees asked about pedestrian safety and crosswalk improvements near the park. One attendee praised recent crosswalk safety work and noted the difficulty of crossing multiple lanes with a stroller. The presenter said adding lighting would improve visibility and extend hours for community use.

Capital funding requests such as this are typically part of the city's broader capital improvement priorities presented to the legislature, and city staff asked legislators to consider the lighting funding alongside design or construction funds for nearby projects. No formal action or vote on the funding request was taken at the special meeting.

The next procedural step for the park request is for city staff to include the item in the city's legislative package and seek appropriations or matching grants during the upcoming session.