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County warns Gateway Park lease termination may close popular dog park; parks and volunteers weigh options
Summary
Spokane County parks staff told commissioners it issued a termination of its no‑cost DOT lease effective April 21 that will remove county maintenance obligations for leased parcels; Fish and Wildlife will keep the watercraft inspection station but is not required to operate the county dog park. Community volunteers (SCRAPS) said they provide dumpster service and limited volunteer maintenance; staff proposed negotiating a new agreement focused only on the dog‑park component to avoid closure.
Parks staff told the Spokane County Board of Commissioners that the county has issued a notice of termination for its no‑cost lease with the Washington State Department of Transportation covering Gateway Park, with the termination effective about April 21. Staff said that decision was part of budget‑driven prioritization of county‑owned lands and that terminating the lease would save roughly $33,000 in county maintenance obligations for the leased parcels.
Staff explained that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) currently leases a portion of the site to operate a year‑round watercraft‑inspection station and would assume base maintenance obligations for the part they lease; WDFW would not be required to operate the dog‑park component. The county’s dog park had previously benefited from contributions by a volunteer group, SCRAPS, which provides a donated dumpster and volunteer litter pickup. A SCRAPS representative said the group spent $2,397.79 in 2025 to maintain the dumpster and contributes a small number of volunteer hours each week to clean and maintain the fenced dog area.
Commissioners asked whether a new, focused agreement could be negotiated with DOT to preserve only the fenced dog‑park footprint and allow SCRAPS or another group to continue volunteer maintenance. Parks staff said DOT indicated they are open to a separate agreement for the dog‑park component, and staff committed to contacting DOT and Fish and Wildlife immediately to explore options and avoid closure. Staff warned that under the current termination terms DOT could lock the gate if no new agreement is in place. The county said the dog‑park area has minimal irrigation and requires as few as three mowings per year; staff suggested a narrow agreement might keep the fenced dog area open at a much lower county cost if DOT permits it.
Next steps: Parks staff said they will contact DOT and Fish and Wildlife to seek an interim arrangement that would avoid closure, and will return to the board with recommended options or a draft new agreement.
