Editing Spokane, Washington (section)

==== Parks and recreation ====
[[File:Manito, Spokane, WA, USA - panoramio (22).jpg|thumb|right|alt=The European Duncan Garden in Manito Park and Botanical Gardens|Duncan Garden at Manito Park]]

In 1907, Spokane's board of park commissioners retained the services of the [[Olmsted Brothers]] to draw up a plan for Spokane's parks.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kershner |first=Jim |date=July 18, 2007 |title=Olmsted Parks in Spokane |url=http://historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8218 |access-date=December 7, 2014 |work=Essay 8218 |publisher=HistoryLink}}</ref> Much of Spokane's park land was acquired by the city prior to World War I, establishing it early on as a leader among Western cities in the development of a citywide park system.<ref>Schmeltzer (1988), pp. 64–65</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Arksey |first=Laura |date=April 5, 2010 |title=Spokane Board of Park Commissioners begins its duties on June 1, 1907 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9387 |access-date=December 7, 2014 |work=Essay 9387 |publisher=HistoryLink}}</ref> Spokane has a system of over 87 parks totaling {{convert|4100|acre|km2}} and includes six neighborhood aquatic centers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parks |url=http://spokaneparks.org/index.php/Parks/page/77 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127140322/http://spokaneparks.org/index.php/Parks/page/77/ |archive-date=November 27, 2013 |access-date=December 7, 2014 |publisher=City of Spokane Parks & Recreation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Aquatics Facilities |url=http://spokaneparks.org/index.php/Parks/page/328 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127140517/http://spokaneparks.org/index.php/Parks/page/328 |archive-date=November 27, 2013 |access-date=December 7, 2014 |publisher=City of Spokane Parks & Recreation}}</ref> Some of the most notable parks in Spokane's system are [[Riverfront Park (Spokane, Washington)|Riverfront Park]], [[Manito Park and Botanical Gardens]], [[Riverside State Park]], [[Mount Saint Michael|Saint Michael's Mission State Park]], [[John A. Finch Arboretum]], [[High Bridge Park]] and [[Liberty Park (Spokane, Washington)|Liberty Park]].

Riverfront Park, created after Expo '74 and occupying the same site, is {{convert|100|acre|ha}} in downtown Spokane and the site of some of Spokane's largest events.<ref name="Riverfront">{{cite web |last=Kershner |first=Jim |date=May 28, 2014 |title=Expo '74: Spokane World's Fair |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?displaypage=output.cfm&file_id=10791 |access-date=October 9, 2014 |work=Essay 10791 |publisher=HistoryLink}}</ref> The park has views of the [[Spokane Falls]] and holds a number of civic attractions, including a skyride, a rebuilt [[gondola lift]] that carries visitors across the falls from high above the river gorge.<ref name="Riverfront" /> The park also includes the historic hand-carved [[Riverfront Park Carousel|Riverfront Park Looff carousel]] created in 1909 by [[Charles I. D. Looff]].<ref name="Riverfront" /> Riverfront Park is currently being renovated and modernized (as of October 2016).<ref name="RPreno" /> Manito Park and Botanical Gardens on Spokane's South Hill features the Duncan Gardens, a classical [[European Renaissance]]-style garden and the Nishinomiya Japanese Garden designed by [[Nagao Sakurai]]. Riverside State Park, close to downtown, is a site for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding.<ref>Landers (2003), pp.90–95</ref>

The Spokane area has many trails and [[rail trails]], the most notable of which is the [[Spokane River Centennial Trail]], which features over {{convert|37.5|mi|km}} of paved trails running along the Spokane River from Spokane to the Idaho border.<ref>Mueller (2004), pp. 270–274</ref> This trail continues on towards [[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene]] for {{Convert|24|mi|km|0}} as the [[North Idaho Centennial Trail]] and is often used for alternative transportation and recreational use. In the summer, it has long been popular to visit North Idaho's "Lake Country", such as [[Lake Coeur d'Alene]], [[Lake Pend Oreille]], [[Priest Lake]], or one of the other nearby bodies of water and beaches.<ref name="Thumbnail" /><ref>{{cite news |author=Patterson, Caroline |date=June 2006 |title=Idaho's Lake Country |url=http://www.sunset.com/travel/northwest/idahos-lake-country-00400000015398/ |access-date=December 7, 2014 |publisher=Sunset |volume=216 |issue=6}}</ref> In the winter, the public has access to five ski resorts within a couple hours of the city. The closest of these is the [[Mount Spokane|Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Mount Spokane |url=http://www.parks.wa.gov/549/Mount-Spokane |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017225705/http://www.parks.wa.gov/549/Mount-Spokane |archive-date=October 17, 2014 |access-date=October 9, 2014 |publisher=Washington State Parks |df=mdy-all}}</ref> which has trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and dog sledding.<ref>{{cite web |last=Arksey |first=Laura |date=August 2, 2006 |title=Mount Spokane State Park |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7819 |access-date=December 7, 2014 |work=Essay 7819 |publisher=HistoryLink}}</ref>

Zoological parks in Spokane include [[Cat Tales Zoological Park]], a wildlife sanctuary primarily for big cats and the Blue Zoo an interactive aquarium in the [[NorthTown Mall (Spokane, Washington)|NorthTown Mall]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Cat Tales |url=https://www.cattales.org/about-cat-tales.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425050417/https://www.cattales.org/about-cat-tales.html |archive-date=April 25, 2020 |access-date=June 16, 2020 |website=Cat Tales Wildlife Center}}</ref><ref>[https://spokane.bluezoo.us/?_ga=2.252440650.2111171074.1592280774-2035672830.1592280774 Aquarium | Annual Passes | Events | Parties | Field Trips | Spokane, WA<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>