Newly announced draft plans to improve the Plante’s Ferry Park sports complex involve nearly $40 million in upgrades to grow sports tourism and spur economic development, says Spokane County Parks, Recreation & Golf director Doug Chase.

“It would really enhance the conditions of play, the quality of amenities that would be available for our local community and serve as a draw for (those) outside of our community,” says Chase.

Plante’s Ferry Sports Complex occupies 95 acres along the north bank of the Spokane River, at 12320 E. Upriver Drive. The complex has five softball diamonds and 13 soccer fields, along with multiple playgrounds and restrooms, a concession stand, and meeting rooms.

Three goals are outlined in the proposed plan: To grow sports tourism to attract, host, and retain tournaments and events; to generate economic impact in the Spokane Valley market; and to improve local sports and recreation programs in the community.

To accomplish those goals, proposed upgrades at the 71-year-old park will need to be split into two stages of development.

Recommended improvements for the first phase of development will cost about $4.8 million and will be paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funds that are already in hand, Chase says.

For that first phase of improvements, the goal is to convert six fields to multiuse fields with synthetic turf, update field lighting to reduce light pollution, and to add 185 parking spots.

Synthetic turf provides a stronger playing surface that will hold up to routine maintenance of the fields and allow for a wide variety of sports including soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby, field hockey, and ultimate frisbee, according to the draft plan.

The second development phase calls for about $35 million worth of upgrades, but funding for phase two improvements hasn’t been worked out yet, he says.

Facility improvements for phase two call for upgraded turf for five youth baseball and softball fields, additional lighting, and the construction of three support buildings. Ten additional multipurpose fields also will be updated in phase two, with three synthetic fields and seven natural grass fields.

At the completion of phase two, Plante’s Ferry Sports Complex will have over 900 more parking spaces than currently are available.

Continued interest after phase one updates have been completed will lead to partnership talks between Spokane County and city of Spokane Valley officials to determine financing and operations for the second phase of the complex development, says Chase.

Currently, the sports fields at Plante’s Ferry don’t meet the minimum specifications for a higher level of competitive play, Chase says. Several of the fields have high crowns to help with drainage, and others, “have just a few inches of topsoil that can be really challenging in the heat of summer to maintain conditions associated with a competitive sports facility.”

In 2016, county officials began looking into the present demand and future needs of the park, but Chase says that economic conditions have changed so much in the last seven years that a new plan was necessary.

In December 2022, Spokane County and the city of Spokane Valley entered an interlocal agreement to select Clearwater, Florida-based consultant agency Sports Facilities Advisory to produce a new comprehensive plan.

Raleigh, North Carolina-based planning and design company Kimley-Horn & Associates Inc. helped draft conceptual site plans for the project, Chase says.

Developers of the draft master plan presented details of the envisioned upgrades to the public after about nine months of research.

“There may be a few fine-tuned adjustments based on the suggestions that were provided,” Chase notes.

Between 40 and 70 people attended a late September meeting to learn about the proposed plans, where public comments were generally positive, says Chase.

“There was a lot of interest and excitement for the plan and the recommendations. One of the concerns we have heard over time … is traffic,” he says. “But there’s a new entrance to the south that’s been proposed, and if that were to come to fruition, that would go a long way to reducing the traffic that currently travels through neighborhood areas to access the facility.”

Residents were generally supportive of the proposal for a new entrance on Trent Avenue, says Chase. He adds that one commenter suggested altering the location of one of the parking areas to bring it closer to the baseball and softball fields, and that adjustment could be incorporated into the final plan.

With public input now in hand, Chase says the next step is to finalize the plan and recommendations followed by a presentation of the final plan to elected officials within the next four to eight weeks.

If the final concept is approved, construction of phase one could begin sometime next year, he says.

The draft master plan also includes an estimated economic impact for the phase two redevelopment proposal for Plante’s Ferry Sports Complex. Annual revenue could range between $1 million for the first year after updates have been completed and $1.3 million by year five, although operations of the facility are expected to require additional subsidies during the first five years, the report states.

The facility is projected to generate over 30,000 new lodging room stays and a total economic impact of about $15 million by the fifth year of operation, according to a financial analysis in the draft master plan.

“It’s important to anticipate further adjustments during the design phase, but with the conceptual plan, that serves as a great road map to what we’re working toward,” he says.