Tree removal ahead at Post Falls' Corbin Park

POST FALLS — Post Falls has identified at least 80 trees that need to be removed from Corbin Park due to damage from the heavy snow before it can re-open the site.

"We expect Corbin to be closed until the end of the month," said Dave Fair, Post Falls parks and recreation director. Work in the park, on the west side of the city, began on Tuesday.

Fair said half of the identified trees have fallen over or have been damaged and the other half are at risk of breaking or toppling. He said public safety is the priority, so the trees must be removed before people can be allowed to return.

"It's going to take a while, and I'm sure we'll find more problems," said Fair, adding that a further assessment will be done this week. "It's not worth taking a chance with the safety of the public."

The park is a popular spot for snowboarders, disc golfers and sightseers during the winter.

He said it is the first time the city has had to close a park due to threatening conditions in recent memory.

"We closed down Q’emiln Park and the cemetery back in 1995 after the big wind storm due to tree damage and potential failure," he said. "It took crews a couples of weeks to clean that up."

While other parks in the city had tree damage requiring crews to cut down some trees, none of them were hit as hard as Corbin.

"It appears that Corbin Park just had a little bit more snow than other areas and, when it is heavily treed like that, you can get problems," Fair said. "Add a record dry summer and you have stressed trees to begin with."

Fair said some people have ventured into the park despite the gate at the entry being closed and a sign stating that the park is closed.

"We're having crews swinging by more often," he said.