Survey: Residents Support Recreation on Rathdrum Mountain

RATHDRUM, Idaho (AP) — As city officials look at what to do with the 557 acres of Rathdrum Mountain, most respondents to a third-party, city-funded survey say they would prefer low-impact recreation.

The Coeur d'Alene Press reports that about 16 percent of households in Rathdrum responded to the survey which will be used to update the city's Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The survey found that 66 percent of respondents said they would prefer development on the mountain. Options that were ranked highest for uses of the area were walking and hiking, picnics and education.

Low-ranking options were ATV, motorcycle and snowmobile riding, shooting, hunting and installing zip lines. The University of Idaho professor who conducted the survey will give a separate report on citizen and stakeholder input on the Rathdrum Mountain property Sept. 9.