'Disneyland for ORVs' envisioned

COEUR d'ALENE — The idea of a local off-road vehicle park is gaining traction.

Nick Snyder, Kootenai County's Parks and Waterways director, has received the OK from county commissioners to further explore the concept of an ORV park and will hear funding options from Idaho Parks and Recreation on Oct. 28.

"Everything is conceptual," said Snyder, adding that a site hasn't been nailed down. "But there is a need. There's enough private citizens and (government interest) that see the need, that we can do better. A park like this would be hugely popular. Recreation is a staple of our economy."

The concept includes riding trails for ATVs, dirt bikes, endurocross, snowcross and four-wheel drive vehicles, a children's ride area, training site, campground, oval flat track, RV parking, a small dog park, loading area and picnic site.

"We'd love to have a minimum of 700 acres," said Snyder, adding that is about the size of a park in Spokane. "But we'd like to see it be between 1,000 and 1,500 acres. We want it park-like, but designated and developed in the sense of lighting, restrooms and pathways.

"It'd be a Disneyland for ORVs. We want it to feel like you're in the woods, but we also want the safety of a park."

Snyder said the intent would be to develop the park without spending General Fund county tax dollars, so grants and donations would be critical in making the vision a reality.

He said he's cautiously optimistic about the funding possibilities.

"There are many grants to get this done," he said. "And, if you reach out to folks, someone could surprise us. Great philanthropists routinely step up."

Snyder said the park would optimally be adjacent to Forest Service land and obviously away from clusters of homes.

"We're not limited from partnerships with Bonner or Shoshone counties, but we'd like to keep it as close to Kootenai County as we can," he said. "There are potentials (for sites) out there."

Snyder said there's a lot of ATV riding trails in the area's back country, but not a designated place geared toward families and where riders can practice their sport.

"A corralled area for families to learn and ride just doesn't exist," he said.

The concept of an ORV park is not new to Kootenai County. Snyder said he had conversations with local off-road groups in 2007, but those fizzled due to concerns that the county would take away from the registration funds that go toward maintaining trails statewide.

"But, over time and discussions, it was realized by everyone that both (a local ORV park and the statewide program) would exist," Snyder said. "We're pretty confident that user fees at the park would self-sustain it."

Snyder said user groups and recreation businesses now see the value in such a park. He's also bounced the idea off the sheriff's office and the county's Community Development Department in addition to the commissioners.

"From an idea standpoint, it's been well-received," he said. "Creating a space for people to go legally and safely is being supported more now. My job is to provide recreational opportunities, but I didn't want to be the only guy beating the drum. I wanted the users to support it."

The county received $10,000 in seed money from the state to develop a conceptual design of the park and for outreach, and only about $4,000 of that has been spent, Snyder said.