Playing it Forward Sandpoint’s parks to see massive makeovers

by Cameron Rasmusson

War Memorial Field has been the subject of major park improvements over the last several years. A new grandstand, fencing, and replacing the grass with artificial turf are some of the obvious changes, and this spring big improvements were made to the public boat launch below the field. But while all these improvements were ongoing, changes at other city parks, as well as the creation of a new one, have been moving right along.

Downtown Waterfront

Early this year the city of Sandpoint announced it was launching a design competition to redesign Sandpoint’s downtown waterfront along Sand Creek.

“We aren’t just looking to redesign the waterfront, we want to include the downtown as part of the process,” said Jennifer Stapleton, Sandpoint’s city administrator, of the proposal that initially focuses on Farmin’s Landing, reached via the alley next to the Panida Theater. “We want to protect and embrace our waterfront when development occurs downtown.”

There are three key pillars in the city’s vision: to celebrate and honor the past; to recognize the pressures, demands and needs of the present; and to define the future of downtown Sandpoint and its waterfront. Three designers were selected from those who made proposals, who are expected to present design proposals this summer for the city to choose from.

For the Farmin’s Landing site, the city is looking for designs that include access improvements for pedestrians and bikers; an aesthetically pleasing layout conducive to outdoor events and gatherings; revised parking; and considerations for deliveries and direct Bridge Street access, while providing a plaza-type environment for enjoyment in the heart of downtown. The land was acquired by the city in 2015 specifically for stormwater and erosion management, but has become a favored public park due to its location next to the water.

A decision on design is expected this fall.

Travers Park

For many locals, a public indoor sports facility was a dream decades in the making. Thanks to a generous donation, that dream will soon be a reality. The family of the late James E. Russell donated $7.5 million for an indoor sport complex, with facilities for tennis, pickleball, basketball, volleyball, and potentially more, and is the centerpiece of planned updates to Travers Park. But that’s just the beginning. The Travers Park project will also include an all-wheeled skate park expansion, a rebuilt playground with splash pad, and improvements to the gateway and plaza.

In addition, local group Pend Oreille Pedalers announced in April it received approval to fundraise, plan, design, and build a mountain bike skills park at Travers, providing the first such skills park within city limits. Budgeted at an estimated $65,000, the mountain bike park will be made possible through community donations—visit www.pendoreillepedalers.org to learn how to contribute.

In autumn 2022, city staff teamed up with Mike Terrell Landscape Architecture to assess park conditions. From there, they collected public opinion through open houses and city council meetings. Phase One of the project is targeted for completion in fall of this year, with a host of Phase Two improvements planned for construction in 2024.

The conceptual plan for Travers, developed prior to the surprise donation of an enclosed court facility, includes reducing the softball fields from three fields to two and replacing part of the grass with artificial turf, as well as relocating the baseball field to the northeast corner of the Centennial fields. The parking lot is to be expanded, and the playground moved, with all playground equipment and surface materials to be ADA accessible. New restrooms are also planned for the future.

A Comprehensive Plan

There are few more important documents for Sandpoint officials than the comprehensive plan, which is often cited by council members as the basis for their votes. A plan outlining a vision for decades of growth within the city, the comprehensive plan was originally adopted in 2009 and is now due for a refresh, which was originally postponed in the fall of 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a visionary document that lays out the goals and objectives, and what follows that project is really going through the codes section by section and revising [them,]” Mayor Shelby Rognstad told KRFY Morning Show.

As of spring 2023, the proposed comprehensive plan refresh is drafted and available for community review. The extensive document offers a grand, overarching vision for the next 20 years, outlining goals for community character preservation, land use, housing, multimodal transportation, parks and recreation, public services and utilities, economic development, airport expansion, natural resources, and more. All design and planning documents are available on the city’s website at www.sandpointid.gov, by choosing the tab “Master Plans.”

“Those changes today that are moving forward—developments that are occurring and projects that are happening—are moving forward because they’re in alignment with the vision of the comp plan,” said Stapleton.

The refreshed comprehensive plan is now undergoing public review, with the city inviting the public to offer their thoughts via workshops and public hearings. Should all go according to the project outline, the plan is cruising toward adoption in the summer of 2023.

30

Hope’s Premier Full Service Marina

Located in Ellisport Bay on beautiful Lake Pend Oreille in scenic Hope, Idaho. Hope’s premier full service marina offering accessory room, full service shop, and docking facilities. Our sales department represents Wooldridge Boats, Honda Motors and Volvo/Penta engines and we offer customer service like no other marina on the lake. Other services include: showers, laundromat, boat rentals,tions, and, of course, the Floating Restaurant.

208.264.5311