Josh Morrisey, marketing assistant for Spokane’s Parks and Recreation department, said the concert series has been happening for at least five years and crowds often grow to over 100 people.“ Offering free music has been a great way to get people out enjoying the park and having a good time,” said Morrisey, “whether it’s just stopping by to watch a few songs on your way through the park, or laying out a picnic blanket to catch the whole show.” Daniel Hall is one of 10 local musicians who will take the stage between June and August. This is Hall’s third straight year performing at Manito, and before that, he worked there. “Manito Park is one of my favorite parks in Spokane,” Hall said. “I go there often and write music. It’s just a peaceful place to me.” Hall is performing at the opening concert alongside “Flight Risk” and Michael Keleren. Because the concerts are outdoors, they are dependent on dry weather. The last concert is August 17. The Park Bench Café opens May 26 and will operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (8 p.m. during concerts). The café serves sandwiches, salads, pastries and other café food and drink. The Park Bench will close on Sept. 3. "Offering free music has been a great way to get people out enjoying the park and having a good time, whether it’s just stopping by to watch a few songs on your way through the park, or laying out a picnic blanket to catch the whole show.” - Josh Morrisey, parks and recreation marketing assistant The History of Manito Park Manito Park has 100-year-plus history, in which it has seen different landscapes and served many purposes. Before the city opened Manito, the land was owned by Francis Cook in the late 1800s. Nittolo said Cook used the land for park and “county fair type” events. A stock market crash before 1900 caused Cook to sell the land. Residents building houses in the area offered to give the city land in exchange for utility services and Manito Park was born. “It was a park long before the city owned it,” he said. In 1904, the city officially opened the park and it housed a zoo of native and non-native animals. “It was pretty extensive,” said Steve Nittolo, Manito Park supervisor. The zoo was home to bison, elk, deer, bears (black, polar and grizzly), monkeys, owls and other animals, but closed in 1932 due to the depression and high maintenance fees. Nittolo said a big misconception about the park is that it was designed by the Olmstead brothers, famous for their work on New York’s Central Park. “I get it all the time,” he said. “They made some suggestions in their report. The design they did was for the overall park system [for the city].” One suggestion they made was to get rid of the zoo, which the city refused at the time. The park’s pond was originally larger and patrons could rent canoes, but the pond would dry up during the heat of the summer. Outdoor film screenings by the pond, a dance hall, lawn bowling and a baseball field were other park attractions. A Walk Through the Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Garden Photos by JOSEPH THOMPSON
The Friends of Manito and the Spring Plant Sale In June, The Friends of Manito will host the 2018 Spring Plant Sale. This sale is on June 9 at Manito and all proceeds will go directly into the parks maintenance budget. The Friends of Manito are a non-profit organization that, according to the group's website, "enhance the beauty and functionality of Manito Park for present and future generations." Over 100 volunteers work annually by tending plants and doing basic park maintenance. Most of the funds used to maintain the park come directly from fundraising by the Friends of Manito. The sale is one of the groups main fundraising events.
"We try to have a huge selection of plants, over 3,000 in any growing season, so that any novice or professional gardener can find any plant they might need," said Saiki. A lot of the plants Saiki orders cannot be found naturally in the area, so she solicited plant experts to be at the sale, helping gardeners when needed. "Whether they’re colorful, long blooming, or winter plants, [gardeners] can rest assured that if they buy a plant from us, it will go well," said Saiki. The 2018 Spring Plant Sale will feature many different outdoor businesses, including patio furniture sellers, a local animal sanctary, and landscape developers. There will also be many do-it-yourself projects offered, such as planter decorating, and succulent display making opportunities. The Washington Butterfly Association will also be in attendence. Saiki said The Friends of Manito also work to provide horticultural education to the area. This Spring Plant sale will feature shrubs, trees, ornamental grasses, vines, in-door plants, and much more. Any member of the Spokane community is welcome to volunteer with The Friends of Manito. Most of the volunteers that work 8 a.m. to noon at their Manito office are retired community members, however Saki said she's interested in gaining volunteers from the college community. "We are hungry for younger people to be involved and help us with ideas," said Saiki. Some of these positions would include helping with advertising, planting, and publicity at Manito. Manito Park guide below
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