T alking about 10- or 20-year planning documents that take months or years to even make it to the final draft is enough to make the average person's eyes glaze over, if not prompt anger or apathy for the slow progress of government agencies.

But once in a while, those plans align with just enough visible work on the ground to spark excitement. Whether through kismet or the logical and timely convergence of intentional planning work by different "big idea" types, the Hillyard neighborhood in Spokane is getting an infusion of hope as the result of multiple planning processes — with residents already enjoying new events and small neighborhood improvements that are set to multiply under two longer term plans for the area.

In early August, the board of the Washington State Arts Commission,

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