Forum Helps City Dedicate Downtown CSO 26 Plaza

The Forum was delighted to participate in the City of Spokane’s dedication of the CSO 26 Plaza. At the dedication, Mayor Condon announced that this plaza now extends Riverfront Park to Monroe Street Bridge.

Located across form the Downtown Library and adjacent to Spokane Falls Boulevard, the plaza has commanding and breathtaking views of Spokane Falls looking upstream and Monroe Street Bridge looking downstream.

The Plaza will serve as a gathering place featuring artwork created by Jeff Ferguson with the Spokane Tribe of Indians and Smoker Marchand. Unseen beneath one’s feet is a 2-million-gallon Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) tank that will gather stormwater runoff, then redirect it to the City’s wastewater treatment plant. This is one of the final CSO tanks the city is bringing online at a cost of 180 million dollars to meet Spokane River water quality standards.

Said Andy Dunau, the Forum’s Executive Director at the dedication, “The city has done an outstanding job harmonizing economic, environmental and cultural benefits that will endure for generations.”

Read more from the Spokesman Review about how this project will tie-in with a trail that will create a loop connecting Peaceful Valley, Sandifur Bridge, Kendall Yards, Post Street Bridge, and Riverfront Park.

Earlier this year the Forum partnered with the city to establish river access at Redband Park. In 2020, the city and Forum are working to restore access at People’s Park.