Cd'A: Losing its glorious past

I was amused by the lead story in a recent front-page Coeur d'Alene Press, "Sandpoint vs. Coeur d'Alene."

Coeur d'Alene takes the cake by a long shot in my opinion, however, over the last couple of years I've felt that Coeur d'Alene is teetering on a precipice and could lose its appeal and charm if not very careful. Its biggest competitor: Coeur d'Alene itself! Old vs. New.

To illustrate, this week a friend was talking about the proposed removal of the magnificent native trees from the dike road at the old Ft. Sherman area, but rationalized it, after doing some research and lamented - "Oh well, years from now our kids and grandkids won't even know what it used to look like!" Hmmm, I hope this is not the mentality that will determine the future of Coeur d'Alene!

In this example, I see a parallel that illustrates the challenge city planners must struggle with, who, in their constant pursuit of attracting new visitors, make decisions that threaten Coeur d'Alene by trying to be modern, hip and "with it," and forever changing.

In the tree example, if we used the justification that our kids won't remember the way it used to look, why then not erase any sign of the past, including historic buildings, parks and monuments? They'll never know! And the native flora? Why just imagine Tubbs Hill - we could replace all the vegetation with red geraniums! We could create a new Disneyland around it - that would attract millions of tourists and the businesses would surely like that, wouldn't they? I mean, we all know profits come first, right?

Another thing I've observed over the last few years is the makeup of our visitors, especially on beach days and major events. I'm really trying not to be judgmental, but some "undesirable" elements have begun to take hold and have changed the usually "Norman Rockwell" ambience here. Could some of this change be due in part to the distinct new emphasis on bars and nightclubs along our main street? And, when was it acceptable for kids to parade through town in the skimpiest beach attire showcasing their cleavage and six-packs? Do we want to become Cabo San Lucas North? Where are the limits and how will that affect the way Coeur d'Alene evolves?

I guess I'm sounding old-fashioned, but I personally question whether Coeur d'Alene is shooting itself in the foot. It's important to carry the past into the future so that our kids DO remember what it used to look like. Let's not lose what has attracted visitors here for more than a century. The way the town is designed and/or preserved and what businesses dominate will determine the kind of people we attract - and as a result, the kind of people who return.

IRENE SMITH

Coeur d'Alene