Croffoot Park expansion expected to be done by summer
Construction is ongoing at the Croffoot Park expansion project, and the city expects work to be finished in mid-May. Newly installed athletic fields will be placed soon, but might take some time to properly acclimate for public use. The parking lot is nearly finished, but remains blocked off until the project is finished.
MATTHEW STEPHENS/Press
HAYDEN — A 6-acre, $1.8 million expansion of Croffoot Park is moving into its final stages, according to City Administrator Lisa Ailport.
"The project construction should be done by mid-May," Ailport said via email. "However, the fields will take time to establish themselves to be tough enough for recreational play."
"The city expects that the fields will be open for public use in the late summer/early fall if the summer is a typical North Idaho summer," she added.
According to Ailport, the expansion is directly tied to a needs assessment that was part of the city's 2040 parks plan.
That assessment showed some deficiencies in soccer/football fields so the city moved to add needed amenities.
"The planned expansion includes one varsity, one junior and four mini soccer fields, as well as a new bathroom, concession stand, gazebo and new parking area," Ailport said.
Funding for the project came from the Hayden Urban Renewal Agency, which partners with the city in public projects. The agency agreed to fund $1.3 million of the project costs. A grant helped fund the remaining expected cost.
"The grant was awarded to the city from The Land and Water Conservation Fund, through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation," Ailport said. "This is a competitive grant process that supports outdoors recreation projects."
"The LWC grant will fund $540,000 with match funding by the city of the same amount," she added.
The design was done by Architects West, and construction is being done by LaRiviere Construction Company.