PRIEST RIVER — The city's Two Rivers Park is closer than ever to reality after councilors voted Monday to approve the project's general design and phasing plan.

Also approved was a landscape maintenance agreement for the park between the city and StanCraft.

"We've done our six-month due diligence and now we're moving into 'let's get it done,'" Mayor Jeff Connolly told the four-member council. "How are we going to do that?"

The project drew few questions from city council members, many of them centered around details that have yet to be finalized, such as whether RV sites at the park would have dedicated fire pits or what snow removal on the park's trails would look like.

"I think when it comes down to fire pits and things like that, I don't know that this is where we're going to detail those," Connolly told the council. "Those are more of a detail when it hits the ground."

With the end of the due diligence period, City Clerk Laurel Thomas told the council that three things have to happen: approval of the general design plan, approval of the phasing plan, and approval of the landscape maintenance agreement.

In Monday's presentation, Nelson Erickson of StanCraft said the first phase of the project would build out the marina, roughly half of the RV park, both beach sections, and the multi-use flex space. It is also likely that some of the existing woodland area, technically set for the project's second phase, could be moved forward.

In addition, the first phase would include parking areas, the cantina and food truck areas, and pickleball and basketball courts.

"A majority of the park amenities would be built in Phase 1 too," Erickson told the council.

Connolly told the council the phasing is meant to be flexible, giving StanCraft and the city room to work together if part of the project is taking longer than expected or a hitch with something causes a delay.

"I call it the 'you'll know it when you get there but you won't know exactly how it's going to play out,'" Connolly said.

His focus in starting the project was to ensure it has plenty to offer the city's residents.

"I think that a large part of my concern when we originally started down this alley was to make sure that we got the beaches in and some of the green space, because that's what people are going to remember," Connolly said. "Otherwise it's, 'Oh yeah, you did all of that other stuff but you didn't do one thing for the public.'"

Both the design and phasing plans were approved in a 3-0 vote, with councilors Doug Wagner, Billy Mullaley and Sandy Brower voting for the project. Council President Candy Turner abstained.

The maintenance agreement was approved in a similar vote.

A former industrial site, Two Rivers Park will sit on a 38.4-acre wooded parcel southeast of downtown Priest River. The former Joslyn Pole Yard property was rehabilitated by the landowner in 2018 and gifted to the city in 2022.

The park will be completed in phases, with current discussions on possible dock layouts and fixed pier docks likely in the initial phase. Later, a floating element could be added as the park is built out.

The latest iteration of the plan keeps frontage parking for the marina to speed loading and unloading. Nearby are a cantina space and spots for local food trucks. It also features an expanded playground and beach element, both tied into a 5-acre green space.

Small cabins have been proposed — an idea that has attracted interest and support, Erickson told councilors at the mid-February meeting. A cluster of camping spots is also planned to increase options for individuals looking to spend time at the park.

The park would have almost three dozen spots for truck and trailer parking as well as ample vehicle parking. It would start with 60 boat slips that could expand to 182 as the various phases of the park are built out, Erickson told councilors Feb. 17.

Plans also call for a fueling station, a ship store with fuel services, and a cantina space for those visiting the park, a nine-hole disc golf course, an amphitheater, and a number of bathroom facilities scattered throughout the facility.

Piers have been added near the park's wetland areas, allowing for an educational landing pad and a spot for people to enjoy that aspect of the park, Erickson said.

The park's RV sites were shifted "down a ways" and now allow for multiple vehicles for a better experience if guests have family stopping by for a visit.

A lower section of the park was also revamped to integrate trail systems. In the latest plan, Erickson said Two Rivers Park will feature over a mile of trails, with StanCraft crews working on the best layout and connection between the different trail segments and aspects of the park.

A master plan on what was then called Joslyn Park was completed in April 2023, with Priest River officials working toward the park's completion since then. In total, bringing Two Rivers Park to life with all the amenities envisioned by organizers will cost an estimated $21 million.

With limited city funds available for the park, project leaders are likely to pursue grants and gifts; the property's many plant and wildlife conservation opportunities and half-mile proximity to downtown make it a strong candidate for federal, state and private money.

City officials are working with StanCraft on construction of the marina and RV park to generate revenue and support maintenance costs as long as the property is used by the community.

The latest drafts of the plan drew rave reviews at a recent Priest River Chamber of Commerce meeting, Connolly told the council.

"I think a lot of people were awestruck," he said. "The feedback was mostly positive and only a couple of naysayers."

    An illustration showing what the first phase of Priest River's Two Rivers Park could include. The park is being developed in partnership between the city of Priest River and StanCraft.
  

    Nelson Erickson of StanCraft presents the general design rendition of Two Rivers Park to the Priest River City Council on Monday, March 2.