Travers Park Project in Sandpoint Earns Idaho Recreation and Parks Association’s 2026 Outstanding Facility Award
SANDPOINT, Idaho — The yearslong overhaul of Travers Park in Sandpoint has earned statewide recognition, with the Idaho Recreation and Parks Association naming the project its 2026 Outstanding Park or Facility. The city of Sandpoint announced the honor in an April 9 news release, highlighting a community-driven redevelopment effort that transformed the park into a year-round recreation destination anchored by the 37,000-square-foot James E. Russell Sports Center.
Work on the project was completed between 2023 and 2025 and represented more than $10 million in combined public and private funding, along with significant volunteer labor and in-kind support from local businesses. The James E. Russell Sports Center itself was made possible by a $7 million gift from the Russell family, a contribution that provided the cornerstone of the broader park transformation.
What the Project Includes
Beyond the sports center, the Travers Park redevelopment added a 15,000-square-foot inclusive playground and splash pad, an expanded and lighted skatepark that recently received a shade covering, and the Tiny Woods Bike Skills Park. Upgrades to baseball fields, batting cages, landscaping and various site features were also part of the comprehensive overhaul.
The Bonner County Skatepark Association supported the expansion of the skatepark, while the Pend Oreille Pedalers fully funded the bike skills park through grants, donations and volunteer labor. The East Bonner County Library District and United Way of North Idaho partnered to create an interactive story trail that incorporates literacy elements into outdoor play near the new playground — a feature that underscores the park’s role as a multigenerational community space.
Local businesses and service organizations played a substantial role in making the project possible. Sandpoint Rotary Club, HMH Engineering, the Selkirk Association of Realtors and Skyright Roofing all contributed materials, funding or expertise. Additional backing came from the Kalispel Tribe, Idaho Forest Group, Peak Construction and Backcountry Electric, among others.
Community Collaboration Called the Defining Feature
“The project was not simply a municipal capital project,” city officials stated in the news release. “It was a citywide effort made possible by residents, donors, nonprofits, local businesses, volunteers, user groups and public partners who came together around a shared vision for the future of the park.”
City officials specifically noted that the nomination materials submitted to the Idaho Recreation and Parks Association highlighted broad community collaboration as the defining feature of the project’s success. According to the city, the award nomination also recognized the “extraordinary complexity of the effort and the disciplined management required to bring multiple interconnected projects to completion while preserving and enhancing the park’s long-standing role in community life.”
Officials applauded the leadership of former Parks Development Manager Maeve Nevins-Lavtar, who oversaw the project from early planning through completion.
Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm offered remarks underscoring the collective nature of the achievement. “This award is a tremendous honor for Sandpoint,” Grimm stated. “Travers Park is a powerful example of what can happen when a community rallies around a shared vision.”
The park’s redevelopment reflects a model of public-private partnership that kept the tax burden on residents limited while leveraging private philanthropy, nonprofit energy and volunteer labor. The ongoing construction activity at the marina adjacent to Trestle Creek is another example of North Idaho communities investing in public recreational infrastructure through collaborative means.
What Comes Next
The Outstanding Park or Facility award will be formally presented at the IRPA annual conference, scheduled for April 20 through April 23 in Twin Falls, Idaho. Sandpoint’s recognition at a statewide gathering of recreation and parks professionals places the city among Idaho’s top communities for public facility development. Local officials have not yet announced any planned follow-up phases or additional improvements to Travers Park, though the city’s news release emphasized the park’s continued role as one of Sandpoint’s most important public gathering places. Residents interested in upcoming community events at Sandpoint’s waterfront and parks can monitor city announcements for programming tied to the newly enhanced facilities.