Bonners Ferry has received a $46,630 Gem Grant to build a new bathroom and concession building at the Boundary County Fairgrounds. 

The bathroom and concession will replace portable toilets that were as much of a fixture at August’s Boundary County Fair as the horses, games and fun for all ages. 

The grant was awarded to Bonners Ferry Parks and Recreation and is expected to cover about half of the project’s overall cost. The rest will come from Boundary County funds; however, taxpayer money will not be used. The bathroom and concession building has been designed, and officials said local companies have volunteered to work on the project, ensuring little to no labor costs. Money spent on the project will primarily be for supplies.   

The Gem Grant is from the Idaho Department of Commerce. It was filed in June of this year and was granted on Sept. 24. A similar grant from the program was previously given to Bonners Ferry to install paved parking downtown next to the Kootenai River.   

City Parks and Red Director Rob Tompkins said previous bathrooms at the site dated back to the 1950's and were in disrepair.  

“The roof was falling in and the plumbing was all exposed,” Tompkins said. “We’d had multiple plumbing breaks where we had repaired them.” 

Tompkins spoke about the support for community projects, which includes a nearby playground built by volunteers. 

“I knew that with this community, if the (information) got out there, we would have people volunteer to help,” Tompkins said. 

Work on the project will likely not begin until spring, Tompkins said. He estimated that the new bathrooms should be completed by next August. However, an official timeline has not been set. 

    Vendor booths at the Boundary County Fairgrounds at the Fourth of July celebration 2025.