03/22/2025
BEYOND CLASSROOMS: Building standalone schools is so 1949.
That’s why Together Spokane is proposing that a replacement for Madison Elementary School – Spokane’s oldest northside school at 76-years-old – should also include a Boys & Girls Club and enclosed public recreation center.
Collaborating to co-locate public spaces has worked successfully before, such as the Spokane Public Library’s Hillyard branch at Shaw Middle School, which was funded by the 2018 bond.
This time, private organizations have also joined the partnership. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County, Spokane Hoopfest, and Pacific Northwest Qualifier (PNQ) have all signed letters of intent to invest in the project. Private investment helps bring down the cost to taxpayers.
Beyond the school itself, Together Spokane aims to also improve Franklin Park, which is used by Madison students and families year-round.
More park ranger patrols and upgrades to restrooms, lighting, irrigation, maintenance, and amenities would help ensure that the area remains a safe, welcoming space for the neighborhood.
Many see the new facility and park improvements as becoming a hub that could strengthen the northside and attract more visitors to the area.
Read on at spokaneschools.org/article/2102927.
