Last Photographic Trip to Manito Park

Duncan Gardens is still the main attraction
at Manito Park

Since our weather has been so wonderful, I decided to visit Spokane's Manito Park just one more time before winter sets in.  Typically, at this time of year the colors are beautiful, the air is crisp and locals are anxious to get to the park for one more walk or lazy afternoon picnic.

The sunny afternoons attract families, lovers, school bus tours, flower and photo club members and a plethora of dogs and their owners.

The park these days is beautiful drenched in the late autumn sun.

In the last few years there has been several remodeling and upgrade projects going on in the park.  Still yet to be finished is a rehab of the duck pond and an upgrade to the landscaping surrounding the pond.

The Park Department states that the work will not be finished until next summer along with a few other projects, including a revamping of the underground sprinkler systems.

A young family strolls on one of the many non-traffic
roads within the park

The park started out in 1902 as Montrose Park under the direction of Charles Blazer, a florist and immigrant from Germany.

In 1903, the park's name was changed to Manito, believed to be

an Indian name for "Spirit of Nature." Gradually, residential homes

filled in around the park and in 1905, Blazer commenced building

a zoo within the park. In 1907, Spokane formed the Park Board and

they in turn hired the Olmstead brothers, landscape architects

who gained noteriaety from designing New York's Central Park, to review 

Spokane's park properties and make recommendations.  And in

regard to Manito Park, they thought it should be much larger, so 

the city started planning for more play fields and additional 

landscaping.  The zoo ended up closing in 1933.*

After Blazer resigned in 1909, the Park Board hired
John Duncan as Park Superintendent

A Sunday stroll

Duncan Gardens is a must see

Good weather is still predicted for the next few weeks, so if you have chance, try to visit Manito Park

The Park is full of Parents with their children

I learned to ride my bike at Manito too

Children are everywhere in the Park


*Source Material for Manito's History came from
an October 12, 2014 issue of the Spokesman Review.