County eyes site for ORV park

COEUR d'ALENE — Kootenai County is considering a site of more than 500 acres owned by the Idaho Department of Lands south of Lake Pend Oreille for a possible future off-road vehicle park.

However, the property off Twete Road just south of Buttonhook Bay and southeast of Bayview received a lukewarm reception from county commissioners on Monday.

Commissioners last year supported the concept of an ORV park, but Chairman Dan Green said he wonders if the site, which is rugged in parts, would be sufficient for the amenities desired.

"I'm supportive of the ORV concept, but I'm not sure if this is the right spot," Green said. "Would we be making too many concessions from the original concept? But I also know finding properties is extremely difficult."

The conceptual plan 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.

Commissioner Marc Eberlein said he believes the property is a popular hunting ground and suspects the idea will draw opposition.

Commissioners gave Nick Snyder, the county's Parks and Waterways director, permission to present the ORV park idea to neighboring landowners.

"My sense is that their initial reaction will be 'Not in my backyard,' but we'll find that anywhere and we do need to chat with the other agencies," Snyder said.

The site includes two parcels owned by IDL, including one that's 517 acres and another 40 that adjoins that property's south side, which has been harvested and is flat.

The site’s borders include a national forest and Stimson Lumber property.

Snyder told commissioners the site has a lot of advantages, including that the county wouldn't have to buy the property and it's not near a population center.

"This gives the public an opportunity to go to a confined area and do what they do without damaging public lands," Snyder said. "While this property needs additional vetting, it's got a lot of potential and the price is right because we don't have to buy it."

Based on early conversations with IDL staff, the state would seek perhaps 3 percent of the county's gross receipts from daily or annual fees from users accessing the property, Snyder said.

Snyder added the county would become the manager of the property. He has toured the property with local IDL personnel, and said while rugged terrain on a portion of a site would limit trails, it deserves a serious look. He said the conceptual plan is a dream he realizes may have to be scaled back if that's what the county can manage.

Snyder said the 40-acre parcel would be optimal for the park's infrastructure such as restrooms and bleachers, so the larger site could be kept as natural as possible. He added a bowhunting organization leases a small section of the site not for hunting, but for education and practice.

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

He said he believes an ORV park in Kootenai County would be popular and increase revenue for parks and waterways similar to boat launches.

"Recreation is a staple of our economy," he said.