KXLY
May 18, 2021 2:24 PM Erin Robinson
Credit: Spokane Parks
SPOKANE, Wash. Staff at Manito Park are making progress on a project to clean out the pond basin at the Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden and it will soon reopen to the public.
The work is being done to support the koi pond conservation project, which improves pond quality and will save up to 18 million gallons of water annually.
Crews are replacing and upgrading all existing pond pumps, plumbing, as well as mechanical and electrical equipment. New UV and sand filters, recirculation jets and pond skimmers are also being added.
The koi will remain in the pond throughout most of the project, except for a short time when they will be taken to a koi specialist for a health inspection.
KXLY
May 6, 2021 1:12 PM Connor Sarles
SPOKANE, Wash. For this week’s Spotlight Spokane, we realized how long it had been since we were at Manito Park there were some fun changes to explore like the fully-restored Mirror Pond! Take a look at the park in bloom this time of year, and then maybe take a trip over yourself!
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KXLY
May 7, 2021 12:05 PM Erin Robinson
SPOKANE, Wash. Manito Park’s Park Bench Cafe will open for the summer season on Saturday.
The popular cafe, which has been a local staple since 1923, is a great place to stop for lunch or ice cream while visiting the park.
This year, Lancer Hospitality will operate services. They will sell and provide concessions at the cafe, as well as at the Looff Carrousel, Numerica Skate Ribbon and Skyride, U.S. Pavilion and Dwight Merkel Sports Complex.
Lancer also plans to have several “pop-up” activations for local businesses at the Park Bench Cafe.
The cafe will start the season on a limited schedule and will be open Fridays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Operating hours will expand to seven days per week starting Memorial Day weekend.
KXLY
February 4, 2021 8:15 AM Erin Robinson
The Park Bench Cafe in Manito Park is now open. (Courtesy: Manito Park Facebook page)
SPOKANE, Wash. The pandemic could change what you eat in local parks in the coming years, especially because of the success of one local café.
This past summer, the locally-owned Ben and Jerry’s franchise took over operations at the Park Bench Café in Manito Park. As a result, the café earned almost $80,000 more than it did in 2019.
The Park Board is now discussing the possibility of ending its contract with a hospitality company to provide all of the park concessions.