SPOKANE, Wash. – The River Park Square parking garage continued to record solid numbers during the third quarter, posting revenue and usage gains over the same three-month period during each of the previous two years.

Total cars parked in the garage during July, August and September increased by more than 15,000 vehicles over last year and jumped by 100,000 over 1999. The gains added to continued strides in year-to-date usage as vehicles parked in the garage outdistanced last year’s nine-month total by more than 82,000 cars.

Record-setting garage usage during July and August helped boost 2001 third-quarter figures. Well-attended downtown events such as the Nordstrom sale and Pig Out in the Park, in addition to sales increases from general shopping provided a lift during those months.

“We are excited to see the continued growth of interest in downtown activities and events,” said Bob Robideaux, project director. “The River Park Square garage is a convenient parking location for families who are enjoying those activities, as well as, downtown shoppers.”

Garage activity dipped slightly in September. Gross revenues last month totaled $137,102, down 13.24 percent during the same month last year, while 59,157 cars used the garage, a drop of 11.09 percent.

Several River Park Square stores closed their doors on Sept. 11 following terrorist attacks on New York, Washington, D.C. and rural Pennsylvania, noticeably reducing the number of cars using the garage that day and for several that followed.  Garage traffic has since picked back up, Robideaux said.

River Park Square is preparing for an active holiday season. Several holiday events are planned at the shopping and entertainment center, including a visit from Santa Claus.

River Park Square and surrounding downtown businesses serve a regional market of more than 1.7 million people. The new retail center has generated more than $6.2 million in tax and fee revenues for the City of Spokane and services located in the city, has created and retained more than 1,100 jobs, and has served as a catalyst for downtown revitalization. Since River Park Square opened, nearly $350 million in new downtown construction projects have been announced or moved forward.