Betz Park, a picturesque green space in Cheney, is facing scrutiny and potential consequences after it was revealed that the city has been out of compliance with a 2010 grant from the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). The grant, awarded in 2010, was intended to fund the development of Betz Park into a public recreation area, including ball fields, soccer fields, campgrounds, skate parks, picnic shelters, and more.
In interviews with Todd Ableman, the Director of Public Works at Cheney, and Myra Barker, Compliance Unit Manager at the RCO, we gained valuable insights into the specifics of the compliance issue and the actions taken to address the concerns.
Ableman highlighted the specific terms of the grant that were not met, stating, “Open space. We purchased this property back in the early ‘90s, and because we used grant funds, we have open space for certain types of recreation.” The city’s deviation from this mandate, especially in terms of the land’s use for agricultural purposes, has sparked concerns about the lost potential for diverse recreational facilities.
Ableman provided details on the approach taken to control weeds. “We had 30 acres, and they plowed it and grew crops to prevent weeds from growing. Mostly just wheat.” The city had a contractual agreement with Tom Scrupps, a local landowner, who managed the plowing and crop cultivation on the designated land.
Barker expressed disappointment at the lack of response from the city, stating, “I’ve asked them to let me know what their plans are, but they haven’t gotten back to me.”
Barker stressed the importance of the land being made available for public use, as originally intended by the grant. If the city wishes to repurpose the land for a different use, an approval process to remove the grant obligation would be required, and they would need to acquire new park property.
The city has taken a step in the right direction by terminating the agricultural use, a positive move in terms of rectifying the compliance issue. However, the lingering question remains: What are the city’s plans for Betz Park moving forward?
Ableman shed light on the city’s awareness of the compliance issue, stating, “Probably just over a year ago that we got a letter from Myra or the RCO. And we had 1 year left on our contract, so we let our farming contract go.” This proactive step indicates the city’s acknowledgment of the issue and its commitment to resolving it.
Ableman said, “We’re back in compliance because we removed the farming operation.” The termination of the farming activities on the designated land is a positive move towards aligning Betz Park with the intended use outlined in the grant.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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