CAROUSEL: Home could be City Park

I have been following the activities of Coeur d'Alene since we moved here in February 2009.

We love it here and really like the city and Lake Coeur d'Alene. There is so much to do every weekend in your city.

As a kid from Washington, my family spent a lot of time here at the Fourth of July celebrations and at the Hydroplane races in the ‘60s. My wife and I spent our first honeymoon night at the North Shore Hotel and dinner at the Cloud Nine here in August 1960. We follow the sports, and study the Coeur d'Alene Press for all the activities in the area.

We have been following the issue of the future of McEuen Field and attended the first public meeting at North Idaho College. It was very informing. The committee did a great job with the planning of it. I hope you advertise the next meeting and place.

Two things that I feel strongly about is the boat ramp. We had a cabin at Kidd Island Bay in the ‘60s and used the boat ramp a lot. The issue that wasn't brought up at the first meeting was about the "Coeur d'Alene Carousel" that was by the lake in the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s. It's now on its way back to our great city.

That would be a quality asset to bring back the Carousel to Coeur d'Alene. A good choice, in my opinion, for the place to build it would be in the park near the shelter and the walkway by the beach, so it would be handy all year around so we could enjoy the park while the children can ride the carousel. The carousel in Spokane is a great attraction for adults and children and attracts a lot of people to Riverfront Park that goes back to the World's Fair in the ‘70s. It brings a lot of people to Spokane. We used to go to the Natatorium Park a lot while in grade school and high school in the ‘40s and ‘50s.

I hope the mayor and City Council will address these issues at the next McEuen Field meeting and share their opinions on the carousel and the boat ramp up for discussion. These elected officials represent the citizens of Coeur d'Alene and have the duty to share their views publicly with us on this important issue.

LES WIGEN

Coeur d'Alene