Cd'A: Like no place on Earth
As a fourth generation Coeur d'Alene resident, this town and its people are very special to me. I have lived other places in the world - amazing places - but Coeur d'Alene has always been and will always be the place I consider home. I was raised here, and now my husband and I are raising our young daughter here. To say that I want the best for this town and this community is an understatement.With that in mind, I fully support the proposed changes to McEuen. It is a beautiful, ambitious plan for an area of our downtown that has been seriously underutilized for many years; a plan that represents how truly great our city could be.
The new park will incorporate aspects for all areas of the citizenry for all seasons - truly "the greatest number of uses for the greatest number of people." I believe it is shortsighted to oppose something that would be beneficial to so many people, particularly the youth of our area, for decades to come. There are thousands of families and tens of thousands of individuals who will be able to use this area in a way that is impossible in its current state.Likewise, moving the boat launch and the baseball fields is necessary. For every boat owner and baseball player, there will be thousands of new people being able to access this area for a multitude of uses. The best use of this space is something that will be welcoming to all segments of the population, which the new park will be. Of course, this will require new baseball fields and a new boat launch somewhere else, and the plans are underway for both facilities. Boaters will still have access to the lake, but now so will many other people who don't own boats. Instead of using prime downtown real estate to just get in and out of the lake, endangering pedestrians in the process, this area can be enjoyed as a destination in itself. People will come - and stay - in the downtown area. And staying downtown means spending downtown too.
Some say the cost is too high. Certainly, to build a world-class venue for recreation, arts, community events, and four-season functionality isn't going to be cheap. But not only have the estimates come in under what many people were guessing a park of this caliber could cost, the simple truth is that the cost of the plan is far less than the cost of atrophy. It is relatively cheap and easy to remain stagnant, but it takes some initiative - and yes, some money - to remain relevant. This park is an investment in our town, our community, and future generations.
To say that there needs to be a public vote so that the public can have a say in the project is incorrect. The public has been "having a say" in the process all along, with public meetings, letters to the editor, city council meetings, and countless discussions with those intimately involved in the project. (Not to mention that the members of Team McEuen are part of this community too.) Decisions on city parks have traditionally been made by city council and the Parks Department, and this decision should be no different.The heart of this town isn't a boat launch and a parking lot; it's the community that looks at these spaces and has the vision to dream big for the improvement of the area and the benefit of its citizens.
There is certainly a vocal minority circulating misleading information in opposition to any sort of change to McEuen, afraid that we are losing facilities, or worse, losing our sense of community. But instead of resisting change, my family and I, as well as many other members of this community, are standing up for the positive change that our town and its current and future generations deserve. I respect those that have lived here for the past 50 years, but it's time for someone to speak on behalf of those who will be living here for the next 50. This is a remarkable plan, an incredible opportunity for our community, and a small price to pay for a dream.