April 26 — South Hill

April 26, 2022

In 1907 the Olmsted Brothers were retained to draw up plans for Spokane’s parks. The foresight shown by early city planners has resulted in some delightful neighborhoods, not the least of which is South Hill. 

South Hill is full of adorable Craftsman residences, Bungalows, and other Arts and Crafts-style houses. Each one is different, most have been lovingly maintained, and many have wonderful landscaping.

We saw plenty of Little Free Libraries during our walk. Some even matched their houses.

We were impressed by the towering trees on Manito Boulevard, a double-sided street with a strip of land in the middle, designed by the Olmsted Brothers. 

Then there was High Drive, which followed the edge of a dramatic bluff and provided a spectacular view.

Manito Park is the crown jewel in the Spokane park system. It includes formal gardens, a conservatory, rose gardens, lilac gardens and a Japanese garden. 

Observations: 

People here are proud of their beautiful neighborhood. They want to engage with their neighborhood. Many houses have outside seating areas in their front yards: On porches, on patios, around a fire pit, under a pergola, or just under an overhang. People in this neighborhood like to share: There were several dog-watering stations and Little Free Libraries.

The cherry blossom trees were ay their peak, and they were gorgeous.

Total distance covered: 7km