John H. Shields Park

John H. Shields Park Renovation — Coming September 2025
If the name doesn’t sound familiar, chances are you’ve seen, visited, or driven past John H. Shields Park — better known to local climbers as Minnehaha Rocks. Nestled along Upriver Drive near the City of Spokane’s Upriver Dam and intersected by the 39-mile Centennial Trail, this County Park has been a beloved and easily accessible climbing destination for decades. Its long-established routes offer challenges for every skill level, and its popularity has only grown as Spokane’s urban footprint has expanded and the nearby Beacon Hill Trail System has surged in use.
The park’s western half was acquired in 1987 through the leadership and generosity of the Spokane Mountaineers, with improvements to the eastern half completed in the early-to-mid 1990s. Since then, little has changed physically, apart from the addition of parkland to the north and west — officially connecting the park to the Beacon Hill Trail System. Today, the park features an unimproved gravel parking lot on its west side, a vault toilet, a paved lot on the east side, a few asphalt paths, and treated timber steps.
Unfortunately, many of these features have deteriorated over time. Illegal dumping and other negative activities have increased, discouraging positive public use. Recognizing the need for revitalization, Spokane County Parks, Recreation & Golf developed a conceptual master plan to guide the park’s future. The vision focuses on:

Celebrating the park’s history in the regional recreation community.
Strengthening connections between the park, nearby neighborhoods, and surrounding trail systems.
Creating a welcoming gateway between the park’s “front country” and “backcountry” spaces.
Expanding accessibility to serve both current user groups and new audiences, especially youth.
Reducing negative activity through better design and community engagement.

The Jess Roskelley Foundation’s Role
In December 2020, Spokane County Parks invited the Jess Roskelley Foundation to help bring the project to life. Our board committed $100,000 to create an interactive children’s climbing playground — a space designed to inspire the next generation, just as Jess was inspired here as a young climber. Through the generosity of corporate sponsors, individual donors, and nonprofit partners, we have met that pledge.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our supporters:

Corporate: Lowa Boots, Lukins & Annis
Individual: Judy Hutchins, Harold Fix, Chris & Michelle Kopczynski, Eric & Nikki Zimmerman, Rick Ridgeway, Phyllis Holmes, Gene & Carol Sharratt, Lori Carpenter, Rich & Sarah Bakes, Mike & Kendra Maurer, Kerry Koritko Family Trust, Chris Marr, Dan & Sherry Schnell, Jeff & Kae Johnson, Kati & Dwight Hoenig, David & Ann Martin
Nonprofit: Spokane Parks Foundation, Spokane Mountaineers

Project Status — 2025 Update
With funding now in place, Spokane County Parks, in partnership with the City of Spokane Parks & Recreation, is moving forward with the renovation. Final designs are underway, and construction is set to begin in September 2025. The renovation will bring the conceptual master plan to life, transforming John H. Shields Park into a safer, more vibrant, and more inclusive space for climbers, families, and the broader Spokane community.

The Jess Roskelley Foundation is proud to help lead this effort — preserving the park’s climbing heritage while ensuring it remains a welcoming, inspiring place for generations to come.

John H. Shields Park Major Sponsors

Lowa Boots and Lukins & Annis | Judy Hutchins | Harold Fix | Chris and Michelle Kopczynski | Eric and Nikki Zimmerman | Rick Ridgeway | Phyillis Holmes | Gene and Carol Sharratt | Lori Carpenter | Rich and Sarah Bakes | Mike and Kendra Maurer | Kerry Koritko Family Trust | Chris Marr | Dan and Sherry Schnell | Jeff and Kae Johnson | Kati and Dwight Hoenig | David and Ann Martin | Spokane Parks Foundation and Spokane Mountaineers

Thank you to all our sponsors!