POST FALLS — Construction began Dec. 13 on a day-use recreation area at Ross Point along the Spokane River.

Popular with local residents, the area is enjoyed by swimmers and dog-walkers regularly.

“Equipment was moved in, but the recent snow storm caused a slight delay,” said Suzanne Endsley, the public affairs officer for the Bureau of Land Management. “Things will ramp up after the weather clears.”

The formerly undeveloped site housed an irrigation pumping system that was managed by the Bureau of Reclamation and transferred to the care of the BLM years ago.

“Development of the Ross Point parcel has been in the works for a number of years, and we are excited to begin construction,” said Ray Pease, BLM Coeur d’Alene field office manager. “General access to the Spokane River shoreline is extremely limited so we are very pleased to soon be able to offer a fee-free, family friendly site for the public’s enjoyment.”

National Native American Construction Inc. from Coeur d’Alene was awarded the $544,000 contract. The 2.5-acre project will be completed in two phases, with the first expected to conclude in June.

Phase one will consist of stabilization of the riverbank, a pedestrian pathway through the park and installation of a picnic pavilion, vault toilet and floating dock.

Phase two will establish the parking lot and include installation of picnic tables and a concrete path to connect the picnic and parking area.

Construction is beginning during the winter because low water levels make reinforcement of the river bank easier, Endsley said.

“We need to minimize or eliminate sediment entering the water when higher water comes,” Endsley said.

This “armoring of the shoreline” process sometimes uses boulders or a retaining wall to create a “barrier that prevents contamination of the water,” Endsley said.

“Our water is really nice here so the last thing we want is a muddy mess,” Endsley said. The release of abnormal amounts of sediment harms fisheries as well.

The park will be an ideal place to launch paddle boards and kayaks, giving access to a mostly private waterway, Endsley said.