Post Falls Rotary, city partner on bike racks in parks

POST FALLS — Post Falls is getting more bicycle-friendly — one rack at a time.

Post Falls Rotary and the city are teaming up to install 30 bike racks at parks throughout the city.

"As you look at the city's transportation plan, this is a step toward that," said Dave Fair, Post Falls parks and recreation director, referring to the goal of becoming a more bike-friendly city.

Seven racks were installed on Thursday at White Pine Park along Spokane Street and four at Chase Park north of River City Middle School. An area at the upper portion of Black Bay Park along Third Street was also prepped for future racks.

"The rest will follow in the coming months for other designated parks," Fair said, adding that Q'emiln and Kiwanis parks are also slated to have new racks. "Park areas were chosen based on need."

Post Falls Rotary was awarded a $5,000 grant, the club itself chipped in $5,000 and the city will fund as much as $4,500 of the project.

"We have not determined how much the city is putting in because we were able to get better pricing on the racks than originally intended," said Shelly Romine, Rotary president. "Their part was anything over and above our committed amount, plus they are putting in the cement pads and providing guidance for the (work days)."

Romine said the Rotary has partnered with the city in the past, including with installation of playground equipment at Chase Park and construction of the storage building at a community garden.

"Providing secure places for bike storage at our community parks will promote improvement of health by biking to the parks, but also the activities that take place once people are able to get to the park," Romine said. "The hands-on projects really motivate our members much more than just donating money to a project."

Fair said Post Falls parks have a limited number of bike racks and some were damaged, so the project is filling a need.

"We're pleased that Rotary saw a need to partner," he said.

Fair said the racks are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and preferred by the biking community because wheels of bikes could be easily damaged with the old-style racks.

"We have this design with our new pocket park on Spokane Street (in the city center) and it was received favorably," Fair said.

Fair said area students weren't approached to build the racks due to the timing of the grant and other time constraints. Welding students have built some bike racks in the area in the past.

Post Falls Parks Construction Manager Michael Zimmerman said as Post Falls streets have been improved with bike lanes, racks at parks will be needed more in the future.