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Sandpoint arts commission backs exploring painted basketball courts; players ask for design input
Summary
The Sandpoint Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Commission discussed a proposal to paint murals on outdoor basketball courts at City Beach and Hickory Park, with arts commissioners and local players calling for clear boundary lines, durable materials and possible sponsorships for new hoops or resurfacing.
Ellie Sestas, chair of the Sandpoint Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Commission (ACHP), asked commissioners to consider a program to paint murals on outdoor basketball courts to support local artists and beautify parks, suggesting City Beach and Hickory Park as candidate sites and noting standard outdoor court paints and texture additives.
“The murals are intended to enhance the community engagement with the parks and celebrate our local artists and sports,” Sestas said during the commission session. She outlined several approaches: stipend-funded single-artist designs, partnerships with high school art classes, or volunteer-led projects and said the commission would research paint types and costs; she also cited examples in Spokane and Liberty Lake.
Commission discussion focused on balancing art and court playability. Multiple participants emphasized that playing lines—three-point, free-throw and half-court—must remain plainly visible. A local player identified as Joel urged the commission to consult with the local pickup-basketball community before moving forward and suggested resurfacing and improved hoops could be higher priorities for competitive players. “If anything, we’re like, ‘let’s put the money towards resurfacing the floors and getting nicer hoops,’” Joel said.
Commissioners and participants discussed costs and durability. Sestas said a community call for art or stipend could cost in the range of several thousand dollars (she referenced call-for-art examples with stipends up to about $5,000). The commission considered sponsorships or Urban Renewal District arts funds to cover artist stipends and installation; attendees noted that those funds already support downtown art projects and could be a source for temporary court murals.
Practical considerations included selecting paint formulated for outdoor courts (acrylics with silica sand for slip resistance), ensuring the lines remain high-contrast, and accepting that painted courts are typically temporary and may require refresh cycles (some commissioners noted repainting every five years as manageable). The group also raised alternatives such as mural walls near the skate park, painting public restrooms, and combining new hoops and a public celebration with any mural installation to increase buy-in.
The commission did not approve an installation at the meeting but asked staff to research costs, durability, and community preferences and to bring a proposal to a future ACHP meeting. Sestas and commissioners encouraged outreach to local players and suggested using sponsorships to fund hoops or artist stipends.
A follow-up item will include better cost estimates, examples of paints and materials, and outreach to the Sandpoint pickup-basketball community; staff and commission members indicated they will return with a draft plan for review.
