McEUEN: Eastwood, city invest wisely

I attended the McEuen Park meeting at North Idaho College Thursday night. I was very impressed by the professionalism and scope of the plans presented. For an ice-breaking event regarding such a meaningful property, I think that the citizens of Coeur d'Alene are being well served by the steering committee and the team of architects and planners.

In his introduction, Parks Director and steering-committee member Doug Eastwood mentioned one fact which went by pretty quickly, a fact I think bears repeating in big, red letters:

"FOR AN EXPENDITURE OF $10 MILLION, COEUR D'ALENE'S PARK SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY WORTH $136 MILLION!"

This is an astonishing fact. Even if the cost were twice as high, this would still be a phenomenal increase in value.

I have known Doug Eastwood for 20 years, during which time our company has made many signs for the Parks Department and for City Hall at his direction. I have listened to his ideas and plans for partnerships and collaboration many times, and I have seen these plans materialize all over town. Our parks system today is big, beautiful and comprehensive. It even boasts its own holiday, Parks Day, held every July just to celebrate this wonderful, city-wide system.

Doug has had the vision for a long time to acquire as much future parkland as possible, back when it was more easily available and more affordable. He also helped orchestrate requirements that new subdivisions must include dedicated park lands, and all along he has persuaded a galaxy of talented and public-spirited people and businesses to contribute untold amounts of materials and labor to create real parks from bare land.

Doug Eastwood and his very talented staff, with the steady backing of the City Council, have truly wrought a beautiful and lasting miracle in the Coeur d'Alene Parks System. Kudos to you, Doug, and thank you from one proud citizen.

Doug Eastwood's stewardship alone gives me a lot of faith in the underlying soundness of this new proposal for McEuen Park. Again, good job to all concerned.

JEFF CONNAWAY

Coeur d'Alene