Sandpoint seeks help to purchase beach equipment
SANDPOINT — City Beach will be looking better than ever this year thanks to cleaning equipment purchased with the help of private donations.
While The Sandpoint City Council authorized the purchase of a new Surf Rake Wednesday, Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Director Kim Woodruff is trying to raise private contributions to the project in time for a July 31 deadline. Fortunately, Idaho organizations are stepping up to help make the purchase possible.
“The machine isn’t cheap, but it is well-built and will last for years to come,” Woodruff said.
According to Woodruff, the purchase was necessary to maintain the beach quality visitors expect. Handling both trash left behind by beach-goers and more natural waste like geese feces, a new beach sweeper designed to comb sand and grass alike will make clean-up quick and efficient. Woodruff said he was impressed by the fiscal impact of a well-maintained beach after reading the latest economic reports from other resort cities.
“If we can get a nice, clean beach and really capitalize on that and promote that, I think it will be a real tool,” Woodruff added.
The only problem was that there is no money budgeted for such an expense. The beach sweeper is projected to cost about $21,000, an amount the standard parks maintenance budget can’t support.
According to Woodruff, his department has raised $8,600 in private donations so far. Ride Idaho, the annual bike trip that tours throughout the state in August, is the biggest contributor with a $6,000 donation. Participants in Ride Idaho will be using the beach as a campground when they arrive in Sandpoint next month, an accommodation the city assisted by amending an ordinance prohibiting camping in city parks.
As for other donations, Sandpoint Rotary placed the second largest donation at $1,500. Winter Ridge and Edgewater Resort round out the private contributions with $600 and $500 donations, respectively. Woodruff is working to collect more private donations before the purchase with the manufacturer is finalized.
Those wishing to place a donation can mail or drop off a check at the City Hall utility window, 1123 Lake St., or add a separate check in a utility bill with a “beach cleaner” note. Individuals or organizations contributing over $500 will be stenciled onto the machine.
According to Woodruff, the cleaning equipment offers the perfect amount of versatility needed for a park like City Beach. The Surf Rake uses patented system for both sand and grass cleaning. It levels uneven surfaces while steel tines rake up debris and lift it into a storage unit. Meanwhile, residual sand returns to the beach through a perforated filter system.
Information: 263-3674