McEUEN: No, it's not like Easton

David Sheridan's letter on Oct. 9 argued that McEuen Field was valuable land that corrupt people with greedy need would take away from the public like is being attempted with Camp Easton. 

As a matter of fact and law, David Sheridan is dead wrong. McEuen Field, like Tubbs Hill, is wrapped in a federal legal steel web that will prevent it from ever being taken by greedy private developers.

I am one of the attorneys bringing suit on behalf of Coeur d'Alene Boy Scouts to keep Camp Easton Forever where it is now.

Over a 40-year period together with Art Manley, Mae McEuen and a host of public spirited citizens, I helped the city of Coeur d'Alene keep McEuen Field and develop it into its present condition. This was accomplished with city money, civic club donations, state approval and federal matching funds.

Let me quote from my 2006 booklet, The Treasure Called Tubbs Hill:

Consider this from the December 1999 Walker-Macy Coeur d'Alene Master Plan summarizing federal and state barriers to disposing of land acquired with federal grants:

"4. Federal Open Space Grants.

"Over the years, the city has received grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to fund various improvements to McEuen Field, the sea wall at the boat launch, and property acquisition at Tubbs Hill. These grants require that sites improved with Federal funds be maintained in public "open space" or "outdoor recreation use" in perpetuity. Idaho State Parks, the agency designated to provide oversight on sites that have received grants, will need to review and approve proposed Master Plan changes. In general, State Parks will approve changes that "provide equal or greater outdoor recreation or open space utility" as compared to the original improvements. Some proposed changes - such as constructing a building not related to outdoor recreation, or constructing excess parking not related to recreation use - may be rejected.

"Tubbs Hill is wrapped in a federal legal steel web. Properties acquired by local governments using Land Water Conservation Fund grants have very rigid conditions on transfer for other purposes. The change of use must be to a similar purpose approved by state and federal authorities."

The uses of McEuen Field can be changed and expanded, but none of that property south of Front Street can ever be taken from the public.

SCOTT W. REED

Coeur d'Alene