Anonymous Gift Saves Funding To Finish Trail $35,000 Donation Bails Out Post Falls
An anonymous donor, contributing $35,000 in the name of Post Falls, has broken the gridlock over who will pay to complete the Centennial Trail.
The donation saved a $1.1 million federal grant to finish a 3.5-mile stretch of the trail between Atlas Road and state Highway 41. The grant was awarded two years ago, provided local groups could raise matching funds.
“I’m really pleased,” said Kootenai County Commissioner Bob Macdonald. “This guy came forward and said ‘I don’t want to see that thing (the grant) be lost.’ It’ll be kind of a memorial for one of his family members.”
The Centennial Trail is a 63-mile path from Riverside State Park west of Spokane to Higgens Point, five miles southeast of Coeur d’Alene. The trail, which is closed to motorized vehicles, is popular with bicyclists, joggers and in-line skaters.
Local officials had been squabbling over how to come up with $280,000 in matching funds for the grant. Kootenai County and a trail foundation agreed to pay $70,000 each.
But Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls were caught off guard when county officials said they’d have to pony up $70,000 each. Neither city had budgeted for the project.
Coeur d’Alene dipped into its coffers and came up with the money.
“Although this particular portion of the trail is outside Coeur d’Alene, it’s still a community asset,” said Mayor Al Hassell. “There’s too much into it to quit.”
But Post Falls, with far fewer people and a smaller budget, said it didn’t have the money.
“Look at our population, look at Coeur d’Alene’s,” said councilman Clay Larkin. “Where are we going to get it from?”
Moreover, Post Falls’ officials, thinking the county would share the costs, years ago spent $122,000 for trail easements. The county didn’t share the costs, although officials now are looking to swap some county land to recoup Post Falls’ costs.
In recent weeks, it looked as if the federal grant would be lost due to Post Falls’ reluctance to pay more.
Finally, Post Falls’ officials pulled $35,000 from their building and equipment budget. County officials will try to give the city $35,000 worth of property in exchange.
“We’re a little nervous about this. We’re trying to find $35,000 in a budget that really doesn’t have it,” Larkin told the county commissioners Wednesday. “Please help us to recover (the cost).”
The anonymous donor will provide the other $35,000.
Wednesday’s 11th-hour agreement is expected to be formally approved next week. Bids for construction of the trail will be accepted early this fall. The trail will include bridges over Atlas and Huetter Roads.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo; Map of new $1.1 million Centennial Trail stretch