BLM invites visitors to enjoy improvements at Ross Point Day Use site
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POST FALLS, Idaho – The Bureau of Land Management Coeur d’Alene Field Office is pleased to announce that improvements at the Ross Point Day Use Recreation Site are now complete. Visitors to the site, located on Maplewood Drive east of Post Falls, can now enjoy designated off-street parking, established picnic areas with tables and barbeque grills, a group picnic pavilion, accessible pathways, a roped off swim area and a floating dock for fishing and non-motorized small craft such as kayaks and paddleboards.
While relatively small in terms of acreage, the BLM’s Ross Point site provides important public access on a mostly privately owned Spokane River shoreline. In the past, the site was largely undeveloped and used by dog walkers or swimmers to cool off on a hot day. The past two years, the BLM invested over $1 million in deferred maintenance funding to establish an inviting and accessible, family-friendly venue. The BLM also completed substantial work to shore up the riverbank and establish erosion control measures.
The BLM is partnering with the City of Post Falls’ Recreation Department to provide monitoring and some general maintenance of the recreation site. Beginning in Spring 2024, the city will assist with rental of the picnic pavilion through their recreation reservation calendar.
“We would like to thank the public and our neighbors for their patience while construction was underway. We think visitors will find the upgrades and improvements were well worth the wait,” stated BLM’s Coeur d’Alene Field Manager Ray Pease. “We invite anyone who is interested to come out and tour the site and help plant shrubs during our National Public Lands Day event on September 21st.”
To celebrate the site improvements and the partnership with the city, the BLM will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. on Thursday, September 21. Directly following the ceremony, the public can participate in a National Public Lands Day event to plant shrubs at the site. The planting will begin around 9:30 a.m. and conclude by 1 p.m. Volunteers interested in lending a hand should bring gloves, wear sturdy shoes, and water. The BLM will provide snacks for those helping with the shrub planting. For additional information about the National Public Lands Day event, please contact Suzanne Endsley, public affairs, at 208-277-5435.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.