Sullivan Road Property

The City of Spokane Valley owns 11 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to Sullivan Park and west of Sullivan Road. The City began the process to purchase the land from WSDOT in 2019; however, the Dept. of Ecology required environment cleanup of the property before the City could close on the transaction. 

The following outlines the six-year property acquisition timeline:

• Sept. 3, 2019 – Council meeting: Motion consideration – Real property acquisition of land adjacent to Sullivan Park. 
• March 9, 2021 – Council meeting: Park property acquisition adjacent to Sullivan Park. 
• 2020 - 2024 - Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) property mandated for Department of Ecology (DOE) Cleanup - City couldn’t complete WSDOT property purchase until the adjacent UPRR parcels were determined clean by DOE
• January 2025 - Parcel cleanup is approved by DOE and City acquires Sullivan Road property.

Sullivan Park Waterline Timeline

The City is constructing a 1,700-foot waterline from Sullivan Park to just north of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The project will replace a low-producing well and bore under the Union Pacific Railroad to provide water to Sullivan Park and neighboring parcels. 

The following outlines the over 10-year timeline since planning for the waterline began:

• April 4, 2014 - City initially considered water from south on Sullivan Road Bridge Replacement project across Spokane River. However, ultimate long-term water service area boundaries required water service to come from Trentwood Irrigation District.
• 2015 - Discussions with Trentwood began to extend water from north under UPRR.
• 2015 - Kemira Water Solutions, located on UPRR property, expressed need for waterline to provide fire flow.
• Sept. 12, 2019 - City signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement with WSDOT, conditional on cleanup of parcel.
• 2019 - 2025 - DOE-mandated environmental cleanup delayed the purchase of the WSDOT parcel until it was deemed clean by DOE in 2025. 
• April 27, 2020 - City awarded a portion of project waterline funds from Department of Commerce (DOC) but City must own WSDOT parcel prior to spending DOC funds.
• Sept. 7, 2021- City entered into an agreement with a consultant (Trentwood’s engineer) to design and secure permits for the Sullivan Park Waterline project.
• Sept. 24, 2021- City secured a Right-of-Entry agreement from UPRR for a deign survey.
• Oct. 22, 2021-The City entered into an Interlocal Agreement with Trentwood to design and construct the waterline.
• Nov. 2, 2021 - Sullivan Road Water Main Project Cultural Resources Survey Report finalized.
• September 2022- Annexation into Trentwood Irrigation District complete. 
• Jan. 12, 2023 - The design of the railroad crossing was completed and used to secure a UPRR Pipeline Crossing Agreement. Agreement was extended annually until project ready to construct.
• Feb. 11, 2025 – Council receives administrative report regarding Sullivan Park Waterline Project, CIP #328. 
• April 22, 2025 – Council approves bid award for Sullivan Waterline Project #0328. 

Ice Sheet Proposal to Utilize City-Owned Property Timeline

At the Sept. 23, 2025, City Council meeting, Councilmembers received a presentation from the Innovia Foundation, representing a local benefactor, regarding a proposal to construct a regional ice sheet facility. Funding for the proposed project would be provided by the local benefactor and developed on city-owned property. As presented, the proposed 65,000 square foot facility will feature NHL-sized dual ice sheets, with an estimated value of $44 million. 

At the Sept. 30, 2025, Council meeting, Councilmembers unanimously authorized the city manager to negotiate all relevant agreements, including but not limited to a ground lease, with Innovia, to provide for lease of and use of the city’s Sullivan Property for an ice sheet facility and associated commercial development as provided in Innovia’s proposal, all subject to further Council approval and appropriation of applicable funding.

The timeline below outlines the Ice Sheet Proposal:

• Early 2025 - Mayor, Deputy Mayor and city manager discuss potential project with benefactor and team.
• Aug. 19, 2025 – City manager provides an administrative report to Council regarding a potential proposal for an ice sheet facility. Council reaches consensus to receive a formal proposal from Innovia. Council meeting materials and video.
• Sept. 23, 2025 – Innovia Foundation presents potential ice sheet facility proposal to City Council. Council meeting materials and video.
• Sept. 25, 2025 – City news release: Council Considers Proposal for Donation of New Ice Facility
• Sept. 30, 2025 – City staff and Innovia Foundation review the proposal with Council, including requests from the City for the potential ice sheet facility. Community members provide public input. Council meeting materials and video.

Tourism Strategic Plan

The city’s 2023 Tourism Strategic Plan identified ice sheets as one of the top potential tourism revenue generators; however, development of such a facility by the City was cost prohibitive. 

• Jan. 31, 2023 – Council meeting administrative report regarding the draft Tourism Strategy Update regarding potential economic impacts of an ice sheet facility. Council meeting materials and video
• Oct. 10, 2023 – Council meeting administrative report regarding the full draft Tourism strategy administrative report. Council meeting materials and video.