Marina's second phase complete

SANDPOINT — After two years of work, Windbag Park and Marina has finished phase two construction, giving lakeside enthusiasts cause to celebrate.

The recently renovated park aims to please a variety of residents with plenty of space to walk, bike and relax. Of course, the marina is also available for boaters to keep their watercraft available for some quality time on the lake.

“Locals and visitors alike can now enjoy new pathway connections and park amenities as trees, vegetation, benches, restrooms, and additional parking,” Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Director Kim Woodruff said.

The primary improvements centered on the parkway and paths. Primary goals included making the area a beautiful location for walkers, runners and bicyclists while improving the ease of navigation for those seeking to park their car, grab their boat and set out onto the lake. The parking area near the marina is now easily accessible via car and contains several parking spaces. Woodruff hopes the income from moorage fees will boost his department’s coffers, easing the tax cost of maintaining park infrastructure.

If boating isn’t on the agenda, Windbag Park features a series of twisting walkways and bike tracks. A concrete path leading to the end of the jetty is particularly significant, ending well into the lake with a sizable oval seating area.

This section of the project came courtesy of a sizable donation from Chris and Genevive Campbell, who used the elegant design and beautiful scenery to serve as a memorial for their son and daughter-in-law.

Dressed up with a simple but lovely stone bench, colored concrete and bronze-working bearing the dedication and a line of W.B. Yeats poetry, the addition could prove a popular location to admire the beauty of Lake Pend Oreille.

A project that’s been in the works since 2010, Windbag Park had the benefit of Sandpoint’s long-term vision to focus the project accordingly. The redesigned park is fully ADA compliant, with sloping paths rather than steps and handicapped parking spaces, Woodruff said.

In addition to the Campbell family’s contributions, Woodruff had plenty of support in bringing the second phase of the project to completion. Neighboring businesses like Edgewater Resort proved very cooperative during construction, while regulatory agencies like Idaho Department of Lands and the Army Corps of Engineers provided guidance along the way. B.F. Builders served as general contractor for phase two, while C.E. Kramer Crane and Contracting handled phase one. The project received additional funding sources from Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency and Seasons at Sandpoint.

“We are delighted to be a financial contributor for this integral project to the downtown waterfront that can be used by the city of Sandpoint for years to come,” Seasons vice president Brent Johnson said.