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 of occupancy. Landscaping was delayed by winter weather, she said, and about 75% of plant stock is staged on site in “healed-in” ball-and-burlap condition to be planted in spring. Trees left in place are being protected and are covered by standard warranties if they fail.

Why it matters: the finished and nearly finished elements at Traverse will open new recreation options for families and people with disabilities and will shift parks staff attention to maintenance and other capital projects in 2025.

What’s next: Maeve and Welker said staff plan a soft opening for the playground and splash pad in late December or early January, followed by completion of punch-list items in early January. The sports center will not permit free indoor walking until interior curtains are installed; staff said the curtains are scheduled soon.

Tennis court renovation: staff described a separate, funded spring 2025 project to renovate the existing outdoor tennis courts. The courts are about 60% through design; Welker said construction is targeted to begin May 15, 2025, which is the day after the high school team’s last practice so the district tournament will not be disrupted. Staff estimated a court closure of about one month but advised users to plan for up to a month. The south court requires excavation because of a long crack in the base; work will include removal of degraded material, grade correction, asphalt overlay and repainting. Coach Ken Anderson has expressed a preference for blue court surfacing to match indoor courts, staff said.

Playground and accessibility features: the new playground includes a synthetic turf surface and a ‘race car’ track for 2–5 year olds, a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round with artwork panels by local artist Heather Upton, and an accessible design sequence of color bands intended to help children with sensory needs transition into turf and grass-like areas. A nature-play area designed pro bono by a landscape architect associated with a Canadian firm was installed with real logs and boulders; staff said that area is also intended as an outdoor classroom and ecological learning site.

Lighting, safety and surveillance: staff said five outdoor lights designed for action sports were installed at the skate park and operate on timers and local dials; staff also noted a surveillance system of cameras indoors and outdoors linked with public safety staff.

Other capital notes: staff said leftover turf from the playground installation may be repurposed elsewhere in the park; material excavated during construction was retained as a soil stockpile valued at about $100,000 for future park repairs; and the department plans smaller projects in 2025 such as repainting basketball courts and repairing playground surfaces.

Budget context and next steps: Welker told commissioners the era of unusually large parks budgets (driven in prior years by a local option sales tax) is ending and that future capital work will rely on regular revenues, state grants and targeted use of parks capital funds. Staff encouraged the commission to expect a fuller briefing in January on the breadth of department work, and said the parks team will begin fiscal-year 2026 budget planning in January.

The commission did not take a formal vote on Traverse Park items during the meeting; staff said they will return with design and bid documents as projects move toward procurement and construction.