RIVERSIDE MEMORIAL PARK
OFFICE HOURS:
MON - SAT
900a-500p
PARK OPEN:
DAILY
DAWN to DUSK
ADDRESS
508 N. Government Way
Spokane, WA 99224
PHONE
(509) 838-1405
MAP
RIVERSIDE MEMORIAL PARK
Originally intended as a municipal park for the young city of Spokane, its legacy is apparent as you walk the curving pathways through trees and grass arriving at a scenic overlook of the Spokane River. Whether you are considering creating a plan for yourself or a family member, or interested in knowing more about one of the Northwest's most beautiful spaces, this page has the information to get you started. The links below allow you to jump to specific sections of interest to you.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE
Meet with a Riverside Memorial Park Family Service Representative.
Begin the planning process to reduce anxiety and stress.
Discover which memorial options are best for the needs of you and your family.
Understand the options, costs, and options for traditional burial or cremation memorialization.
Meetings can be held in your home, our office, over the phone, or through video chat (for in person meetings, we will follow all current communicable disease guidelines).
A VISUAL OVERVIEW OF RIVERSIDE
Riverside Memorial Park is directly opposite Greenwood Memorial Terrace on Government Way and its grand entrance is framed by the historic Park Cottage and Heritage Funeral & Cremation. The park covers a total of 161 acres with 85 of those acres developed, overlooking the confluence of the Spokane River and Latah Creek. Native basalt rock formations are used consistently throughout the park's architecture and structures to connect this land to its ancient heritage, as well as its more recent history as you pass through the Kirtland Cutter designed arch entrance to the park.
It's beauty is not only a place of solemn memorial, but a celebration of life as the park is a frequent site of many community events in conjunction with Heritage Funeral & Cremation.
MEMORIAL OPTIONS AT RIVERSIDE
Below are some of the many options for establishing a place of permanent memorialization at Riverside Memorial Park.
FOREST GROVE GREEN BURIAL & CREMATION SECTION
Riverside Memorial Park is the location for Eastern Washington's only dedicated site for green burials and cremations.
Forest Grove reserve at Riverside is designed to ensure that both interment and ongoing maintenance minimize the carbon footprint of the memorial process. To discover more about green burial, visit Sustainability and Green Burial.
A BRIEF HISTORY
The land where Riverside Memorial Park lies was originally a recreational municipal park, which opened in 1907 when John Aylard Finch spearheaded the organization of the Riverside Park Company. It wasn’t until November 1914 that the grounds were dedicated as a cemetery, which required a special city ordinance to allow a cemetery to be within the city limits. The original name of the cemetery was Riverside Park Cemetery, and changed in 1962 to its current name.
Since the grounds were originally a park, it was only natural that the cemetery was developed in the memorial park design, with the majority of the gravesites having in-ground markers, and with few upright headstones, mausoleums, and family plots. There are, however, the fraternal and Orthodox sections that were designed in the old garden cemetery fashion.
In addition to being the home for the deceased, the site is also home to a large population of wildlife since it is so close to the confluence of Latah Creek with the Spokane River. The overall design of the cemetery was laid out in a flower pattern, thus the names of the sections: Rose, Violet, Aster, Lily, Jonquil, Tulip, and Wisteria among others.
HISTORICAL FIGURES AND PIONEERS AT RIVERSIDE MEMORIAL PARK
The final resting places for many significant pioneers instrumental in the development and history of Spokane can be found within the Fairmount Memorial Association cemetery parks. It is our pleasure to highlight some of these important individuals; continuing to breathe life into the history of Spokane. We hope you enjoy exploring the following links:
MEMORIAL OPTIONS AND SERVICES
Discover traditional and more contemporary memorials, tributes and options available at Fairmount Memorial Association parks and cemeteries:
RIVERSIDE MEMORIAL PARK STAFF DIRECTORY
The caring Fairmount Memorial Association staff at Riverside Memorial Park would be pleased to assist you with any questions or arrangements. If you would like to speak to one of our Family Service Representatives, use the contact form below, call the cemetery office (509) 838-1405 or send us an email at information@fairmountmemorial.com
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