Rathdrum's newest park ready for bid

RATHDRUM - Rathdrum is ready to start building its newest park.

Parks and recreation director Lance Bridges will ask the City Council for permission tonight to go to bid on the first phase of the 11.9-acre Majestic Park east of Meyer and north of Lancaster.

The phase includes irrigation, grading and seeding.

"If we start planting it now, it would be ready to use this time next year," Bridges said.

The park will be constructed with parks impact fee funds. Bridges said he's unsure of what the improvements will cost, but realizes it's a favorable climate to have work performed.

"We'd like to go out to bid to see what we can get," Bridges said. "With the economy, we've gotten some good prices on our other projects."

The city made improvements to Pinegrove Cemetery and paved a parking lot at Thayer Park earlier this year.

Design work for irrigation and grading has been completed along with the overall park design. Public input workshops were held on the park design earlier.

The city-owned site is in the southeast part of the city next to the water tower and is vacant.

The plan calls for two softball fields, a splash park, a playground, shelters and bathrooms.

"This will more than likely be a five- to 10-year process depending when funding comes in through grants and impact fees," Bridges said.

In other business, the council will:

• consider a resolution in support of adding Citylink bus service to Rathdrum;

• consider a base bid of $35,000 in improvements, plus alternative work, on Mill Street to create a quiet zone at the railroad crossing off Main Street;

• hear a presentation on the Kootenai Technical Education Campus levy on Aug. 24; and

• hold a budget workshop.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 8047 W. Main St.