80- Spokane City Parks & Aubrey Lee White

Aubrey Lee White of Spokane fought to ensure the long-term quality of the environment of his adopted city and its surrounds long before "environmentalism" became a well-known term. The 20-year-old native of Maine made his way to Spokane in 1889. He worked odd jobs to support himself while exploring Spokane and the surrounding area on foot or in a buggy, recording and mapping its picturesque landmarks.
These adventures would pay off when White rose to prominence as a wealthy and powerful businessman who was able to convince local authorities to create one of the best park systems in the country. He pushed for the Olmsted Brothers, renowned landscape designers, to be hired for its design.
After his parks career ended, Mr. White found himself as the gardening writer for the Spokesman-Review for another two decades, endearing himself to many in the community and continuing to pus for the beautification of Spokane until the end.
Listen now to learn more about this early Evergreen State environmentalist!
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