‘Ballet with loaders’: City leaf pickup program begins next week

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky created "The Nutcracker," a beloved on-stage ballet that ushers in holiday glee worldwide. 

Many moons ago, Coeur d’Alene created its own theatrical artform distinguished by clever locals: the “Ballet with Loaders.”

“It’s really quite amazing to watch them work,” Todd Feusier, director of the Coeur d’Alene Streets and Engineering Department, told city officials Tuesday. “They never bump into each other.”

As Coeur d’Alene streets currently gush a vibrant array of pesky but beautiful fallen foliage, the city prepares to take on its annual free fall leaf pickup program, otherwise known as Leaf Fest.

Deploying two dump trucks equipped with 12-yard boxes, city crews will begin collecting disposed leaves from residential curbsides. The program, which begins Nov. 12, typically equates to about 900 total loads collected free of charge.

“It is one of our biggest events, and my crew is very excited to start it,” Feusier told the Coeur d'Alene press Wednesday. “They’re very proud to clean up the streets.”

There is no official date confirming when Leaf Fest actually began in Coeur d’Alene. Exploring local newspaper archives, however, Feusier said he discovered an article highlighting the city’s leaf pickup program from 1962.

How it works, residents are asked to collect and place piles of leaves about 1 foot away from the curbline to allow water flow. City crews then first initiate the process at 6 a.m., blowing excess leaves and, sometimes, knocking on doors to have folks move their vehicles.

“Rain or shine,” Feusier said, “they’re out there doing that.” 

Loaders collect the leaves and pour them into the dump trucks, with the rented equipment costing the city $225,000. Once the trucks take all they can handle, they drive to the streets department campus at North Ramsey Road where the leaves get grinded. The final product is then taken to and infilled at Coeur d'Alene Airport-Pappy Boyington Field.

The crew, dedicating about 10-12 hours daily to complete the work, typically takes about two weeks to fully rid city streets of this colorful fall quilt. Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, plum and maple trees are common drivers of the foliage.

Feusier said the process will begin at the historic Fort Grounds neighborhood, with crews working their way west to east and then north.

“It amazes me you can get from south to north as quickly as you do,” Council member Kenny Gabriel told Feusier on Tuesday. 

But it’s not all fun and games. 

Feusier said the airport is starting to run “out of real estate to process leaves” and that the city might eventually have to find a new space. Future possibilities include farmland or a transfer station, which city officials worry could be too costly.

Until that day comes, however, Leaf Fest continues to help some immensely thankful Coeur d’Alene citizens.

The St. Thomas Cemetery on Mullan Avenue, for example, every year invites the public to help rake leaves. On Friday, Coeur du Christ Academy students will roll up their sleeves and help, while Saturday includes a cleanup celebration lunch put on by the Knights of Columbus.

By Nov. 12, the cemetery leaves should be ready for the city.

“It’s very helpful to us because we have 30 maple trees,” said Tina Johnson, who manages funeral and cemetery services for St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. “Every time we take a load to the landfill, the church gets charged, so it's a great service for us. We really appreciate the city for doing that.” 

Including spring cleanup, St. Thomas typically has up to 75 volunteers help out.

“We have a wonderful community here in North Idaho,” Johnson said.

Then there’s the individual resident.

Raking the leaves of her front-yard maple trees in brisk 40-degree weather Wednesday, Coeur d’Alene resident Carla Hamilton said the city’s fall leaf pickup program is “wonderful.” 

“We absolutely love the trees here. This is my favorite time of the year,” she said. “The city takes care of the roads and we really appreciate that.”

Information about Leaf Fest has been shared via October utility bills, social media and, starting Monday, will be shared on message boards across the city. To follow its progress and look at a leaf schedule map, visit www.cdaid.org/government/departments/streets-and-engineering/leaf-pickup/. 

    Coeur d'Alene resident Carla Hamilton gathers leaves on the road Wednesday.

  

    Leaves are piled high in the Sanders Beach area as city crews begin the annual Leaf Fest in 2024.