Just over one hundred years ago, the city of Spokane owned less than 200 acres of land for public parks. As people were pouring into the city by the thousands, hotels, apartment buildings, and warehouses were rapidly constructed, as Spokane's population tripled between 1900 and 1910. This unprecedented growth in the size of the city may have completely destroyed Spokane's natural landscape, creating instead an urban landscape of industrial buildings without a tree or lawn in sight. Thanks to the foresight of city leaders, Spokane now boasts over 4,000 acres of park land and has rightly earned the motto “Near nature, near perfect.” Take a tour of the Olmsted-designed park system and learn about the history of park preservation in Spokane!