SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane’s Place of Truths Plaza closed for two weeks starting Tuesday as public safety concerns regarding the area have been discussed by city leaders.
Place of Truths was developed to honor the Spokane Tribe of Indians and other Salish populations. It will undergo cleaning, trash removal and repairs by Parks and Recreation staff, including graffiti removal.
The city’s announcement comes just days after City Council President Betsy Wilkerson and Director of Public Works Marlene Feist assured that safety concerns regarding drug use in the plaza would be addressed ahead of downtown programming this summer.
In the Parks and Recreation Department’s announcement, upcoming public celebrations are named.
“The plaza will soon be home to a trailhead for the Spokane River Gorge Loop Trail, anticipated to open by the end of May for the Expo 50th anniversary celebration,” the department said.
A March 8 media release from the city assured residents that the restoration will maintain the safety and accessibility of the plaza past the summer.
Spokane Tribe member Jeff Ferguson emphasized the importance of Place of Truths to local indigenous communities and the significance of keeping the area safe.
“If we ignore these problems, they’ll continue to grow. We don’t have to let our city go that route. We can preserve it. We can step up as a community and say, ‘This is our homeland, this is our home,’” Ferguson said.
The maintenance is not expected to interrupt vehicles but may impede foot traffic. In addition to city resources, volunteers from Spokane Riverkeeper will join the effort to clear the riverfront area of debris.
