High Bridge Park is a

public park An urban park or metropolitan park, also known as a municipal park (North America) or a public park, public open space, or municipal gardens ( UK), is a park in cities and other incorporated places that offer recreation and green space to r ...

located at Riverside Ave. and A St. in Latah/Hangman,

Spokane, Washington Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Cana ...

. It is open daily, without charge.

Latah Creek Latah Creek ( ), also known as Hangman Creek, is a large stream in eastern Washington and north central Idaho in the United States. The creek flows northwest from the Rocky Mountains to Spokane, where it empties into the Spokane River. It drain ...

runs along the eastern boundary of the park. The valley carved by the creek is crossed by three bridges carrying Interstate 90,

Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles, California, that stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades east to Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles. It is a major thoroughfare in ...

and a railroad. These bridges cross above the southern portion of the park. A gravel road for vehicular traffic passes through the park from A Street in the north to 13th Avenue in the south. Near the center of the park is a maintained grass area with amenities typical of other parks in the city. Picnic tables and grills are scattered about on the grass. There is also a picnic area with a wooden roof. A small playground is provided for children. While not as forested as the rest of the park, tall

Ponderosa Pine ''Pinus ponderosa'', commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western North America. It is the ...

trees shade the grassy area. A second, smaller, grass area lies up a hill immediately to the west. The remainder of the park is quite different. Located less than two miles west of the city center, the park was plotted for development in the early days of Spokane. In the first half of the 20th century, the park was home to a tourist auto-camping park. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, the park became home to federal housing for veterans. The motor home was eventually abandoned and the land became part of the park. The buildings are gone but obvious traces of the former neighborhood remain. Streets and sidewalks, now closed to traffic, are slowly succumbing to nature. Lots where mobile homes once stood are now highly forested. Weaving around the park, but avoiding the main grass area, is an 18 hole, par-3 disc golf course. In January 2011, a

dog park A dog park is a park for dogs to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners. Description Dog parks have varying features, although they typically offer a 4' to 6' fence, separate double-gated ...

was opened in the portion of the park west of A Street. High Bridge Park is adjacent to, but separate from, two other city parks. On the steep, 500 foot high ridge across Latah Creek is Overlook Park. Directly North across Riverside Avenue is People's Park where Latah Creek joins the

Spokane River The Spokane River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long, in northern Idaho and eastern Washington in the United States. It drains a low mountainous area east of the Columbia, passing through the Spokane Valley and the city of ...

. On the river is the clothing optional beach, which People’s Park has become known for since 1974. High Bridge Park developed a reputation for public sex acts. Between 2001 and 2006, the Spokane police department received 27 calls about lewd conduct and 6 people were arrested in June 2006.

Gallery

Bridges crossing Latah Creek.jpg, High bridges looking south across High Bridge Park along Latah Creek showing the

, High Bridge and I-90 Bridges High Bridge Better Crop.png, All three High Bridge Park bridges and Latah Creek in the southern end of the park The Sunset Boulevard Bridge Spokane WA, from Empire Builder - panoramio.jpg, High Bridge Park looking north from the railroad bridge, showing the Sunset Boulevard Bridge and

References

{{Reflist

External links

Spokesman-Review article about the park.Professional Disc Golf Association course guide.
Parks in Spokane County, Washington Geography of Spokane, Washington Tourist attractions in Spokane, Washington

Gallery

See also

References

External links