Dwight Merkel Sports Complex
Spokane's largest sports complex celebrated its Grand Opening on August 7, 2010 with a Ribbon-cutting Ceremony and a whole day of fun activities featuring the new Softball Complex, Soccer Complex, BMX Track, Skate Park, Trails, Neighborhood Park, Splash Pad and more. View pictures of this event on our Facebook page.
About the Merkel Complex
Named for one of the city’s most influential figures in the development of athletic competition for children, the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex was constructed using $7 million from the 2007 City of Spokane Parks Improvement Bond along with $4 million from the sale of park property that was approved by City voters in 1999 and subsequently held in reserve.
The new Dwight Merkel Sports Complex features:
- Six full size natural grass soccer fields
- Two full size synthetic athletic fields with lights
- Five softball diamonds with lights
- One youth baseball field
- Concessions, rest rooms and meeting space
- BMX track with lights & timing equipment
- Skate park
- Neighborhood park with splash pad & playground
- Paved Perimeter Trail
- Unpaved 1-mile Riverside State Park Connector Trail that leads down to Riverside State Park’s trails and offers outstanding views of the Spokane River
Dwight Merkel - The Man behind the Name
“His biggest contribution was to make sure every
kid got a chance to play, to have his day in the sun,
by making a policy that everyone got to play at least
half a game," said longtime friend, Kirby McKee.
Youth Sports Champion Merkel Dies
Jim Price Correspondent. The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Wash. June 4, 1997
Photo - Shawn Jacobson, The Spokesman-Review
Dwight Merkel, the city's most influential figure in the development of athletic competition for children, died Tuesday afternoon, June 3, 1997 following a long illness. > Full story
