Location Spokane, WA
Client City of Spokane Parks and Recreation
Services Program Management, Project Management
Project Value $71 million
Hill provided program management support services to the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Division for the Riverfront Park Redevelopment Program. The redevelopment program modernized the site of the 1974 World’s Fair and created a more inviting public space to accommodate a greater volume of visitors for both large and small community events.
The 40-acre park, which includes 2 islands, a diversion dam and powerhouse, 7 bridges, and areas on the north and south banks of the Spokane River, is in downtown Spokane, WA. The redevelopment program constructed the first Ice “Ribbon” in the Pacific Northwest, built a new building for the 100-year-old Looff Carrousel, renovated the iconic U.S. Pavilion Event Center located at the center of the park, replaced the Howard Street South Channel Bridge, and created a new Howard Street Promenade and a new North Bank Regional Playground. The Ice Ribbon project featured fire pits and basalt columns around the ribbon, along with a facility for skate rentals, food services, and ticketing for the ribbon and the SkyRide. The SkyRide featured enclosed cabins/gondolas which traveled above the Spokane River and to the side/front of the Spokane Falls. Other construction elements included a $1 million renovation of the rotary fountain located between the Ice Ribbon and the Looff Carrousel.
Hill’s services included program budget validation and project control implementation; development and management of a park-wide master schedule; comprehensive program filing system recommendations; and project, consultant, quality, and construction management support services. The Hill team met with the project management office and the Riverfront Park Executive Team on a weekly basis to provide guidance for program implementation.
Program challenges included managing the work within the shoreline jurisdiction, mitigating contaminated soil and subsurface rock impacts, coordinating with stakeholders and multiple consultants, and park-wide phasing during design and construction.
“Hill International has been and effective and important member of our Riverfront Park Redevelopment Team. Our project is complex with multiple design and construction teams. Hill’s staff has helped us stay on our timeline and within budget. Our project would not be where it is today if it wasn’t for Hill. I recommend Hill to anyone else considering them for their project – they are top notch!” -Leroy Eadie, City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Director
