Park Facilities
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For more information or to make a reservation, contact:
Kathi Young
Main Office Line: 509.363.5455
Fax: 509.363.5454
PICNICS and SMALL GROUPS
If using any of the outer parks for a simple picnic gathering of 50 people or less, please contact Park Operations at 509.363.5457. Staff will be able to tell you if another group or a special event has been booked for that park. The use of our parks for small picnics is offered on a “first come, first served” basis. In order to secure a spot for your picnic event, it is encouraged to arrive early. Most of the outer parks have stationary tables. Some have grills in the picnic area and a small shelter (without tables) available. Only paid reservations for our picnic shelters at Franklin, Manito, Mission, and Shadle Parks will guarantee the use of the shelter, along with picnic tables and benches. Please call 509.363.5455 for more information.
LARGE GROUPS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND OUTER PARK PICNICS
The permit application process begins when you submit a completed Special Event Permit Application. Keep in mind that acceptance of your application is not to be construed as final approval or confirmation of your request. The City has liaison staff, in the Parks and Recreation Department, the Fire Department and in the Police Department to help guide you through the permit process. Copies of the application are forwarded to and reviewed by all affected departments. During the review process, you may be notified if your event requires any additional information, permits, licenses or certificates of insurance. These items must be received before your permit can be approved. In many cases, Special Event Permits are approved only a few days before the event. All Special Events are approved on a first come, first served basis. Your permit may not be approved if it conflicts with another already approved Special Event.
Your Responsibilities
Your main responsibility is to communicate clearly with City staff and to work with the City in making your event the best and safest it can be.
Normally, City staff and equipment cannot be used to support a Special Event. Event sponsors are responsible for traffic and crowd control or for paying for extra support from the Fire and/or Police Departments or for private security. If your event is to be held in a City Park, some special rules, regulations, fees, deposits and restrictions may apply, including a $50.00 non-refundable application fee if over 200 people (per City Ordinance). A fee will be included to use any park facility at $25.00 per 100 people. An additional $25.00 will be charged if party bringing in any unusual structures (i.e. jump castle, dunk tank/water games/ ice blocks, amplified sound, canopies or tents (must be free standing – NO stakes). An additional $50.00 will be charged if the activity is catered. Generally, park areas cannot be reserved for exclusive use of one group and access to the area by the general public must be available at all times.
It is your responsibility to comply with all City, County, State and Federal Disability Access Requirements. All indoor and outdoor sites for Special Events must be accessible to persons with disabilities. If a portion of the area is inaccessible, an alternate area must be provided with the same activities that are in the inaccessible areas. Disabled access may include parking, restrooms, telephones, clear paths of travel, transportation, accessible vendors and booths.
The Spokane Regional Health District recommends one (1) chemical toilet for every 250 people, or portion thereof. You must properly dispose of waste and garbage throughout the term of your event and immediately upon conclusion of the event the area must be returned to a clean condition. You can set a standard by leaving the area better than you found it. If you fail to perform adequate clean-up, or damage occurs to City property, you will be billed at full cost recovery rates plus overhead for clean-up and repair. In addition, such failure may result in denial of a future Special Event Permit or the requirement of a cash bond or surety bond for future events.
NOTICE:
ANY SPECIAL EVENTS IN CITY PARKS INVOLVING COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES, VENDORS, FUND RAISING, EXCEPTIONS TO PARK RULES AND POLICIES, SPECIAL SUPPORT FROM THE PARK DEPARTMENT, OR OTHER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE PARK BOARD APPROVAL.
THE SPOKANE PARK BOARD MEETS ONLY ONCE PER MONTH. SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATIONS REQUIRING PARK BOARD REVIEW AND APPROVAL COULD TAKE AS LONG AS THIRTY (30) DAYS TO GET ON A MEETING AGENDA AND BE PROCESSED.
THE PARK DEPARTMENT REQUESTS THAT YOU CALL OUR OFFICE (509) 363-5455 AND RECEIVE A BLANK APPLICATION FOR EACH EVENT. THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT PROCESS IS REVIEWED PERIODICALLY AND REQUIREMENTS DO CHANGE. PLEASE DON’T ASSUME THIS FORM WILL BE THE SAME YEAR AFTER YEAR. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND YOU AN UPDATED APPLICATION AS EARLY AS NINETY (90) DAYS BEFORE THE EVENT.
APPLICATION FEE: (Per City Ordinance over 200 people)
$50.00 non-refundable application fee, which will be credited to (or deducted from) all other fees and charges. Please submit a separate check.
DEPOSIT: (Returnable after report of No Harm)
$250.00 deposit for 201 or more people total attendance (separate check).
$ 50.00 deposit for 200 or less people total attendance (separate check).
Deposit due upon verbal approval of event, payable to CITY OF SPOKANE.
The deposit check is returned only if a SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE is included. Otherwise this deposit check will be destroyed within thirty (30) working days after the event if no damage was incurred. If damage has occurred, you will be notified!
Note: If over 200 people, application requires two separate checks (one for application fee and one for deposit) when submitting the application.
PICNIC SHELTERS
Reservations will be taken for the picnic shelters at Franklin, Manito, Mission (Mission has two shelters now, north and south), and Shadle Parks. Paid reservations will guarantee the use of the shelter, along with picnic tables and benches. A concerted effort will be made to keep the restrooms cleaned and stocked. Reservations will be accepted the first full week of the New Year (Closed New Year’s Day). Paid reservations will be taken all year long. Keep in mind during your plans that there will be NO restroom/water availability prior to Memorial Day or after Labor Day, except for Manito, which has restroom availability year around. All portable tables and benches will be pulled from all parks by mid-October through mid-April. Note: Manito and Franklin Shelters both have a maximum of 400 people per reservation; Shadle and Mission Park Shelters will have a maximum of 200 people per reservation. No nails, tacks, screws, thumbtacks, etc. are to be used on wood structures or trees. All decorations, tape, signs, etc. must be removed to avoid damage and/or cleaning charges.
AVAILABILITY and CONFIRMATION:
A maximum of two (2) consecutive reservations will be accepted per day at each shelter. All reservations may be made for up to four (4) hours. Reserving a shelter 4-8 hours constitutes two paid reservations. A reservation will not be confirmed unless payment is made and received within ten (10) working days of the original contact.
FEE SCHEDULE:
There is a $50.00 reservation fee for use of a picnic shelter mentioned above for 50 or less people. $100.00 for 51-100 people. $150.00 for 101 to 200 people, and $200.00 for 201 to 300 people. The fee will include use of tables and benches with a maximum of four (4) hours per reservation. Reservation fees cannot be combined with other fees and/or equipment deposits. Please make payment with exact change, check, or money order. Payments by credit card are anticipated to be available in 2009. Family picnics with potluck food (brought in food) and regular games for 1-50 people, NO charge, unless using one of the above mentioned shelters. Groups over 50 people (not reserving one of the five shelters) require a “Special Events” application. Included fees are $25.00 per 100 people to use any park facility. In all park activities, an additional $25.00 will be charged if bringing in any unusual structures (i.e. jump castle, dunk tank/water games/ ice blocks, amplified sound, canopies or tents (must be free standing – NO stakes). An additional $50.00 will be charged if the activity is catered.
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR SHELTERS
Groups of 200 or more are required to fill out a “Special Events Permit” application. Above fees will be applicable. The Parks Division Manager will evaluate and determine the appropriate fees and requirements needed for the event. Please refer to the application for additional fees/deposits.
ELECTRICITY ACCESS:
You will not need a key to access the electrical outlets at any of the picnic shelters you pay for. Those outlets will remain unlocked throughout the picnic season. Please note that the electrical capacity of these outlets is limited! One electric coffee pot uses about 2/3 to 3/4 of the electricity available at these outlets. Exceeding the capacity of the outlets will likely trip circuit breakers that are not accessible to the public and would disrupt the electricity completely. We make an effort to check and ensure proper operation of these electrical outlets. We can normally correct problems that occur during normal working hours (6:00am – 2:30pm, Monday through Friday). Vandalism, overloads and other failures beyond our control do occur. Our ability to correct problems on evenings, holidays and weekends is subject to the availability of an electrician and overtime/call-out labor charges. If electricity is essential to your event, please contact our office at least 2 weeks in advance to discuss having an electrician put on stand-by for your event. There is a charge for this service.
WATER ACCESS:
Potable water is available from the drinking fountains and restrooms. Bring small container to fit under faucet.
PAYMENT:
Checks for reservations should be made payable to the “City of Spokane” and mailed to Park Operations, 2304 E Mallon, Spokane, WA 99202. It would be appreciated if you write on the lower left corner of the check the park, shelter, and date you are reserving.
REFUND POLICY:
Refunds can only be obtained when a written request is received at least fifteen (15) working days prior to the date of the event. The reservation permit and receipt must accompany the written request for refund. There will be a $15.00 handling charge on all refunds. Refunds can take up to four (4) weeks to process. No refunds will be made due to inclement weather.
