Sandpoint parks staff report Traverse Park near substantial completion; tennis court overhaul planned for spring

Traverse Park and the newly opened James E. Russell Sports center were the focus of a year-end capital update to the Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Committee on Dec. 11, 2024, where staff said most major construction is complete but landscaping and several finishing tasks will carry into spring.

City parks planner Jason Welker told the commission the multimillion-dollar work that finished this year — including the sports center, a skate park, a new playground and a bicycle skills area — represents an unusually large round of capital spending for the department. Welker said the sports center project alone was an $8,000,000 effort and that the facility is intended to operate on a self-sustaining basis, though its revenue will not replenish a separate parks capital fund.

Committee members heard details from parks project manager Maeve (last name not provided in the meeting transcript) about Traverse Park elements that remain to be finished. Maeve reported that playground equipment, surfacing, pathways and hardscape are installed; the splash pad piping and concrete bases are in place; and the project received its certificate…