Ice to warm hearts
Without any controversy, you can have a fabulous recreation attraction that benefits the community, area businesses and visitors, too.
McEuen Park? Not what we're talking about.
We're talking about a local Phoenix on ice.
Rising from the ashes of obliteration by a snowball-weilding Mother Nature two winters ago, the KYRO Community Ice Arena is a lot further along than you might have noticed. Thanks to a $2 million insurance settlement, a bigger and better facility is well under way at 3525 W. Seltice Way in Coeur d'Alene, on the north side of the street and just over a mile west of Northwest Boulevard.
Fueled by a group of dedicated locals daring to dream big on behalf of our community's youth and other recreationists, the new facility is expected to open Aug. 1 and serve a variety of needs and desires year-round. The Kootenai Youth Recreation Organization's rink is for big kids, too. The old facility averaged 2,000 patrons a week - more than you'd find using McEuen Field most weeks during the summer - and the new one will certainly eclipse those numbers with more offerings and space.
You can read about facility particulars on our front page today and by going to the organization's website, www.kyro.org. Better still, you can find out more and ask questions at a public meeting Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the National Guard Armory, 5453 E. Seltice Way in Post Falls.
To meet that Aug. 1 deadline, the organization hopes to raise $400,000 from the community. About another $400,000 will be needed after that for everything on the wish list to be met.
There's a lot we like about the direction KYRO is headed. During an editorial board meeting last week, presenters made a compelling argument that what they envision is not extravagant, but it's not short-sighted, either. The new facility is being built to last and to provide year-round fun and healthy activities. An effective fundraising campaign now, combined with KYRO's track record of solid fiscal management on the operations side, gives us confidence that they won't be back in a year or two asking for more money.
Of course, you needn't take our word for it. Check it out for yourself.
If your business, service club or other group would like to see a 30-minute presentation and be able to ask questions, call KYRO Manager Matthew Beam at 765-4423; e-mail info@kyro.org