Leaf Fest begins in Coeur d'Alene

COEUR d’ALENE — Mother Nature cooperated on opening day of Leaf Fest: a slight breeze, damp leaves and rows of mostly barren trees. 

“Pretty ideal conditions right now,” said Todd Feusier, director of the city’s Streets and Engineering Department. “I’d love it if more leaves had fallen, but you’re never going to get them all down. This will work just fine."

The annual collection of leaves is a massive undertaking in Coeur d’Alene, which is a Tree City USA. That means it has trees. Lots of trees. Oak. Maple. Elm. Cherry. Linden. And more. 

Residents citywide have spent hours the past few weeks using trash cans, wheelbarrows, tarps and carts to haul leaves from yards to streets. 

Now it’s the city’s turn. 

Pretty much every employee in the Streets and Engineering Department, plus some from the Water Department, was involved on day one Tuesday.

Crews started early in the Fort Grounds neighborhood, and then swept south of Sherman Avenue, moving west to east. They’ll gradually make their way north, with a goal of wrapping up by early December. If the weather is good, it could be sooner. 

Three front-end loaders, seven dump trucks and four sweepers were in action. 

A ground crew hustled ahead of the big rigs, blowing leaves from under cars out into the street, and knocking on doors and asking people to move cars. 

After leaves were piled high at intersections, they were scooped up and hauled to the streets and engineering headquarters off 3800 Ramsey Road. 

There, Cannon Hill Industries will grind them up, and then they’re loaded onto semitrucks and hauled to the Coeur d’Alene Airport. In the final stage, they’re spread over a dirt and grass field. 

Before it’s over, nearly 600 dump truck loads of leaves will be hauled away.

Rain is in the forecast for today, which is both good and bad. It makes the leaves heavier and keeps them from blowing around, but the water also fills the street sweepers faster. 

“It’s a blessing and curse,” Feusier said 

Feusier said once the crews pass a street they won’t return, so residents are urged to have leaves a foot from the curb. As operation Leaf Fest has begun, you’re running out of time if you haven’t already done so.

“We like to do this once and one time only,” Feusier said. 

Leaves are piled high in the Sanders Beach area on Tuesday, as city crews begin the annual Leaf Fest.