Bonner Co group wants hiking trail

Dozens of rural community projects have been launched with grand visions straight out of “Field of Dreams” – “If you build it, they will come” – but many never produced the promised results.

Once in a while, however, there’s a project that launches a struggling rural economy, and one with that potential is gaining traction in North Idaho. It has broad community support and a dynamic woman leading the charge to a spring construction start date. It may take years to complete and loads of fundraising, but it’s a start.

After three years of planning, the promoters of a 25-mile bike and walking trail between Dover and Oldtown, Idaho, have just published design plans and study results. Liz Johnson-Gebhardt, executive director of the Priest Community Forest Connection, said last week that work on the project will begin in the spring/Fred Willenbrock, SR guest columnist. More here.