Spokane's Stepwell Art Piece Fenced Off | Spokane News

Spokane’s $500K art installation “Stepwell” — meant to be a beloved, interactive wooden landmark like Chicago’s “The Bean” — is now locked away behind fences after just a year. Designed with rare Alaskan yellow cedar and intended for climbing and exploration, it quickly became a target for vandalism, with graffiti seeping into the wood despite efforts to clean it. Structural issues emerged too: gaps, warping, and weather damage made maintenance nearly impossible. Park staff called it “sh-art,” and even during special events, it stayed chained up. With an engineer’s report pending and safety concerns paramount, the city waits — but the public’s favorite spot remains closed, a cautionary tale of ambition gone awry. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/a37fb4d4d522f940