A premier cross-country course in Spokane Valley and improvements to Beacon Hill access points are among the outdoor recreation projects planned in the Inland Northwest.

A State Environmental Policy Act review has been issued for the site of the envisioned cross-country course and community park, putting the city of Spokane Valley one step closer to beginning work at the roughly 60-acre site located east of Flora Road, south of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, and north of the Spokane River.

In partnership with Spokane Sports, Spokane Valley is envisioning a cross-course complex, meaning that it will include a cross-country course and a cyclocross track.

Cyclocross is a form of cycling described as a cross between road biking, mountain biking, and steeplechase, according to USA Cycling.

“The Spokane region does have a growing reputation as a sports-minded community, especially with The Podium opening in 2022 and ONE Spokane Stadium in 2023,” says Mike Basinger, economic development and planning director for Spokane Valley. “Construction of a premier cross-course facility really was found to position the city to benefit the most from increased sports tourism.”

Spokane Sports’ role in the partnership will involve marketing and management of events at the complex once construction is completed.

The cross-country course will allow for a variety of events at different competition levels.

“It’ll have several different lap configurations,” Basinger says. “It will allow for a variety of cross-country events, even middle school, high school, collegiate, post-collegiate, and master-level events.”

The city hopes to break ground in September and have the cross-country course completed by fall of 2025, Basinger says.

Walker Construction Inc. and SPVV Landscape Architects, both of Spokane, make up the design-build team for the project.

Plans for the cyclocross track are still being developed, as are plans for additional amenities at the park site, including a clubhouse, Basinger says.

“We’re focusing on cross-country at this point,” he says.

As previously reported by the Journal, Spokane Valley purchased 46 acres of land from the Washington State Department of Transportation in 2020. The additional 16 acres of the proposed cross-course complex and public park site are owned by Washington State Parks, although the city has been granted right-of-entry for that land and intends to sign a long-term lease for the additional space that runs adjacent to the Spokane River.

The decision to build a specialized cross-country course was the result of a 2023 tourism strategy assessment that determined the course would be the most favorable tourism asset for the city, Basinger says.

“This could really help support our hotels and our businesses in Spokane Valley,” he says.

A conceptual design estimate from about a year ago put the cost of the project at around $5 million, Basinger says.

Funding for the project comes from $4.4 million in lodging tax funds and $150,000 from a Washington State Legislative capital request.

Future funding will determine the timelines of additional features at the site, a lot of which will be planned more thoroughly through a park masterplan update.

“It’s a community park as well,” Basinger says.

Beacon Hill

West of Spokane Valley, the city of Spokane and Spokane County are moving into the next phase of making the Beacon Hill conservation area more accessible to the public. 

“This phase is really all about providing better access to that great public land,” says Nicholas Hamad, park planning and development manager for the city of Spokane.

The joint effort between the city and county call for two of the primary Beacon Hill trailheads—at John H. Shields and Camp Sekani parks—to be renovated and parking to be roughly doubled at the two parks, which Hamad says is a need given the number of people who visit the area.

“We also are focusing currently on some connections to the Centennial Trail,” he adds, adding that they are working on providing pedestrian-activated beacon crossings across Upriver Drive to make it safer.

At John H. Shields Park, plans call for the creation of a playground-like bouldering area that uses manufactured boulders that allow kids the chance to learn how to climb in a safe environment, Hamad says.

“It’s just a great opportunity for us to introduce more folks to outdoor recreation that’s available here,” he says.

The current phase of the Beacon Hill project is estimated to cost about $2.7 million.

Funding sources consist of a $1.1 million state grant, about $800,000 each from the city and county, and some private donations.

The project is in the environmental review and permitting stage currently, and the majority of public outreach and design work has been completed, Hamad says. The city contracted with Spokane-based AHBL Inc. for civil engineering and landscape design services.

“We expect to begin work as early as very late fall this year, but probably more likely spring of 2025,” Hamad says.

The first phase of the Beacon Hill project, which took from 2018 to 2021 to complete, consisted mostly of the city and county acquiring over 200 acres of land. The entire protected Beacon Hill conservation area is about 540 acres.

“Beacon Hill phase one was really the acquisition of public properties so that we could protect all of the hiking, biking, and recreational trails and facilities in that area,” Hamad says.

Avista Corp. also owns some land in the area, but the organization has granted the city and county an easement for recreational use across some of it, Hamad says.

A total of $3.4 million, $1.5 million of which was grant funded, was spent on the first phase.

Future phases will likely involve continued enhancement of trails, wildfire mitigation work, restroom improvements, and additional kiosks and signage, Hamad says.

“We’re going to be working with the community to enhance Beacon Hill for the foreseeable future,” he says.