The City of Spokane Valley, in partnership with Spokane Sports, is constructing a premier cross country running venue on property bordering Flora Road and state land along the north shore of the Spokane River.
The City of Spokane Valley is constructing a dedicated, premier cross country sports venue on 46 acres bordering Flora Road and the north shore of the Spokane River in Spokane Valley. “The Course Spokane Valley” is being built to host cross country meets of all levels, and other sports events that require a similar outdoor space. The site will also serve as a public park.
The venue is slated to host 5K, 6K, 8K, and 10K races for NCAA and other collegiate level meets, as well as high school, middle school, and master’s level events. Construction will finish in late 2025, but the venue’s sod turf grass will need time to establish a deep root system before supporting a significant number of runners.
The City is partnering with Spokane Sports to program regional and national events at The Course. It is expected to be fully operational in fall 2026 and has been selected to host the 2026 and 2027 NWAC Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Regional Championships, and the 2027 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Western Regional Championships. Other events will be announced as they are secured and scheduled.
Construction of a Dedicated Cross Country Sports Venue
The Course is located on 46 acres that the City acquired in 2020 with the assistance of a $1 million acquisition grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. Construction of The Course meets a key stipulation of the grant – that development at the site occur within five years.
An adjacent 16 acres of land owned by Washington State Parks provides a buffer between the city property and the Spokane River. City staff are working with State Parks to secure a 30-year easement to the acreage, thus expanding the public park to the riverbank.
The City began constructing the cross country course in September 2024 and has incorporated its natural terrain into the design. The initial buildout of the venue – the sod grass running course, irrigation, small restroom building, bike racks, and parking lot with team bus drop-off and pick-up area – will cost about $7 million.
Secured funding as of June 2025 includes:
• $6.9 million in lodging tax revenue from the City of Spokane Valley
• $150,000 Washington State Legislature capital appropriation (2024 legislative session)
• $26,000 Union Pacific Foundation grant (awarded to Spokane Sports)
• $282,464 Washington State Department of Commerce grant (awarded to Spokane Sports)
Spokane Sports will use grant funds from the Union Pacific Foundation and state Department of Commerce to install a permanent finish line arch at the venue. This element is a critical feature, proving the quality of the facility and its capability to host major events, including regional, national, and international championships.
“A finish line arch is more than just a marker. It’s a signature of a premium course,” said Ashley Blake, CEO of Spokane Sports, in the announcement of the commerce grant. “We prioritized this feature because we know how much it matters to event organizers and athletes. It elevates the entire experience.”
“Our collaboration with the City has been strong from the start,” she said. “This is a long game, and the funding secured for the finish line arch is a tremendous step forward.”
The City will construct additional amenities such as a fieldhouse with a crow’s nest (for the event announcer), additional restrooms and meeting space, and a food truck court in the future, as funding allows. In the long term, The Course and surrounding public park will be managed by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
A finish line arch is more than just a marker. It’s a signature of a premium course.
Benefitting From Sports Tourism
A premier cross country sports venue was identified in the city’s 2023 Tourism Strategic Plan as the most favorable tourism asset, based on return on investment.
Through independent research and discussion with coaches and sport’s governing bodies, Spokane Sports has identified 35 national and regional events that could be hosted at The Course over the next five years. The venue will complement The Podium, which opened in 2022 and One Spokane Stadium, which opened in 2023, and further enhance the region’s growing reputation as a sports-minded, sports-centric community.
“We are excited to collaborate with Spokane Sports and put Spokane Valley on the map for sports tourism – generating millions of dollars for hotels, restaurants, transportation and the retail sector in our City and the region,” said Spokane Valley Community and Economic Development Director Mike Basinger.
