Ponderay opens Bay Trail access through early October

SANDPOINT — The city of Ponderay officially announced that the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail is open through Sunday, Oct. 4.

City officials announced Friday that the trail is open to the public from the Sandpoint entrance to the gate, where signs are posted.

Construction on the trail began early April, with crews tasked to remediate the former panhandle smelting and refining site found on the Ponderay side of the trail.

“While the historic smelter only operated sporadically between 1907 and 1909 it left a lasting impact on the community in the form of heavy metal contamination (primarily lead) throughout the site,” city officials said.

During the project, which addressed on site contamination through the removal of vegetation on the applicable site, lasted throughout the summer. Trails remained open during some parts of the construction, but access was limited to protect the safety of trail users, officials said.

The cleanup project is part of the city’s first phase of its Front Yard Project, aimed to connect the communities of Kootenai to Sandpoint through the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail. After its completion, Ponderay officials said the trail will provide a two-mile link between the cities.