In a vote that would help Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park expand its vision as an affordable, quality winter recreation facility, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission approved the Non-Profit Ski Area’s proposal to add a Chairlift and seven runs to the NW quadrant of the Ski Area Concession at Mt. Spokane.
The final decision was made on Thursday, May 19th in Spokane, and included a blended land classification for the 850 acre portion of the ski area known as the Potential Alpine Ski Expansion Area (PASEA). The PASEA was the only land not classified during the 1999 land classification process at Mt. Spokane State Park. MS2000 has been working through the process for classification and expansion approval since 2003.
In Thursday’s Commission decision, a large portion of the PASEA was classified as Natural Forest Area, which would set it aside for wildlife habitat and forest protection. The proposed ski runs and lift, at approximately 80 acres, will be classified as Recreation and the remainder will be classified as Resource Recreation which would allow for back country skiing.
MS2000 will begin the permitting process immediately, and is hopeful of beginning construction in the summer of 2012.
The MS2000 Board of Directors and Staff want to thank everyone for all their support and encouragement through this long process leading up to this historic decision. It was ultimately the broad based support of the Spokane Community that helped the Commission make this difficult decision.
