PONDERAY — From the beginning, a guiding force for Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail supporters was the motto, “It’s not just about building trails — it’s about building communities.”

Now that the public Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail is finally complete with Ponderay’s purchase of the final parcel this week, public officials and private organizers can see that philosophy in action. For them, the project doesn’t just preserve nearly a mile of waterfront property for the public — it also ties Sandpoint and Ponderay together with a symbolically potent ribbon of recreational land.

For the rest of the story, see the print edition of the Bonner County Daily Bee or subscribe to our e-edition.