SPOKANE, Wash. – From many accounts, “A Place of Truths” Plaza in the heart of downtown Spokane is becoming an area that is unsafe for residents or visitors.
“A Place of Truths” was built in 2019 to honor Spokane’s indigenous population. It has spectacular views of the Spokane River.
But many in the community say the current state of the plaza is filled with graffiti, drug use and homeless encampments.
“$25 million for this, because they [The City of Spokane] had to put these water tanks under here…there [were] municipal codes that meant that they have to have the river view beautiful. They aren’t supposed to have all the graffiti… So, they thought, well, they could do this thing and dedicate it to the indigenous people… And I mean, it was beautiful,” Elizabeth “LizBeth” Flett, a long-time Spokane resident, said.
Flett’s ex-husband and children are indigenous and are part of the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
She often goes to the plaza to take photos and document its conditions.
She believes the current state of the plaza is offensive to the indigenous community of the region.
In January, Flett attended a City Council meeting to voice her concerns about the plaza.
She feels the City has yet to address the problem.
“I never heard another thing from ’em. I’ve sent emails,” Flett said.
Flett’s concern is that the City may be working to clean up the plaza ahead of the upcoming events such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Bloomsday, or Expo ’74.
Thursday, the City was out at the plaza starting work on a clean-up project. It’s being led by the Public Works department.
“We’re doing a spruce up…on this plaza right here next to City Hall. Obviously, this space has been misused quite a bit. So, there’s garbage to be picked up and graffiti to be covered. We also had a little bit of maintenance work that we wanted to do,” Marlene Feist, the Director of the Public Works department, said.
Both Feist and City Council President Betsy Wilkerson told NonStop Local that they are going to find a strategy to do regular clean-ups of the plaza, even after events like Expo ’74.
“I think the strategy will be…”A Place of Truths” is just like Riverfront Park, and the investment we keep in Riverfront Park, to keep it clean and accessible. Because I believe it’s [“A Place of Truths”] a tourist attraction. We take it for granted, but it is a tourist attraction. We need to roll that into one program,” Wilkerson said.
Flett told NonStop Local that she hopes something long-term is done to clean up the plaza, and the surrounding areas, as she believes at this time, it is an unsafe location.
“This place is scary. It’s nowhere you want to be by yourself at night,” Flett said.
