McEUEN: What 1 taxpayer says
My name is Cheryl Riddle, I am a native of Coeur d'Alene. My parents are from Kellogg and they raised their family in Coeur d'Alene. Other than attending Boise State University and a job I took in Vail, Colo., as a Radiologic Technologist, I have lived in Coeur d'Alene. I am very proud to be a graduate of Coeur d'Alene High School and North Idaho College. I believe in standing up for what I value and that would be to have limited changes to McEuen field.
I have attended four of the public presentation made by Team McEuen. I am asking that you listen to us the taxpayers. We voted our City Council members into office to represent our needs and not to be influenced by those who own property and businesses overlooking McEuen Field.
1. I support upgrading the boat launch. I disagree with spending millions to relocate it. The revised design at Silver Beach has some weakness to the plans such as:
No breakwater provisions as the shoreline of Tubbs Hill currently protect the boat ramp.
No retaining wall where we now have one by the parking lot. This seawall protected the shoreline during severe flooding a few years ago.
Limited parking and additional land to purchase that is not the cities.
I have been told from veterans that during their travel in the USA and abroad that we have one of the nicest boat launches.
I like having it centrally located in our city, it is a wonderful focal point for our beautiful city by the lake. Why move it out of town and make it inconvenient for those of us who use it whether you have a boat or not.
2. The American Legion did not ask to be relocated. They were asking to provide input on where to move the baseball fields. I question aspects of their new design as mentioned below;
Why not keep the ball fields and improve them.
The proposed area off of 15th Street is not even flat land needed for a ball field.
The proposed parking limits the number of people attending an event.
3. Many people have given valid reasons for limiting the cost to upgrade McEuen. I am for the following changes:
Improve the children's play area.
Upgrade the landscape and appearance of the parking areas.
4. I am in agreement that we need to improve parking but I disagree with an underground garage. I believe other locations would be better suited for traffic congestion and lowering the cost.
Think about other locations to put the parking garage, perhaps north of Sherman.
The larger the project the harder it will be for the downtown business to survive because of potential lost business.
Has a traffic study been done considering the changes being asked for by the McEuen Team? I do not feel that the designated streets can handle people leaving the parking structure on an average weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
I think of Spokane's parking garage and the amount of debt it has occurred and worry about Coeur d'Alene incurring those unknown future expenses.
CHERYL RIDDLE
Coeur d'Alene