SPOKANE, Wash. — The Northeast Community Center has often been described as a safe haven for Spokane residents. Soon, the non-profit will provide the community a breath of fresh air.
In January, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $1.1 million grant to Gonzaga University to improve air quality from wildfire smoke in Spokane. Now, the university and City of Spokane plan to use the funds to improve air quality in recreational spaces.
New air quality filters and upgraded HVAC monitors will be up and running in the Northeast Community Center within the next two weeks.
“It’s a vision, it’s something that we were looking at doing but as a non-profit we don’t have unlimited funds,” said Dave Richardson, the executive direction of the Northeast Community Center. “When the opportunity met the need, we were able to quickly respond and get the grant.”
Richardson said improving air quality in trusted community hubs can help many Spokane residents find relief.
“We are a hub in the community and an area where people feel safe to come to. You definitely have the ability to come here and beat the smoke,” Richardson said.
Dr. Brian Henning is the director of the Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment. “Collaborating on grants, such as this EPA-funded project bring much needed resources into our region to help make our community more resilient to a rapidly changing climate,” Henning shared in a statement.
Looking ahead, both Gonzaga Climate and the City of Spokane said they want to build a wildfire smoke preparedness plan. This would give community centers guidelines to keep people safe during a wildfire-related emergency.
One city councilmember shared a concern with the plan, worried it may draw the unhoused population to these centers. The councilmember asked for a clause that provides certain stipulations.
“You’ve got kids in these locations. You cannot be pushing people experiencing homelessness into these locations. If that’s the goal, then I couldn’t be more opposed to this,” councilmember Michael Cathcart said.
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