McEUEN: Wealthy are beneficiaries

Who makes the decisions?

When we bought our home in Coeur d’Alene in 1976 there were wonderful tennis courts at McEuen Field that we utilized often. But as years passed, the courts were no longer being maintained. When it rained, muddy water sat on some of the courts and left a muddy residue that made playing tennis impossible. The nets sagged or were broken and were not replaced or repaired. Only two courts were in good condition and when we went to play they were always in use.

I called the City Parks Department to complain and I was told that there were “other tennis courts, such as at the high school that we could use.” In other words, the Parks Department did not intend to maintain the McEuen Field tennis courts anymore!

A year later, since the tennis courts “weren’t being used,” the city took them out! Who made that decision?

Now the same thing is happening with the boat launch. The parking is going to move to a much more inconvenient location. Will “someone” decide to forego maintenance on the boat launch ramp? Will the city make it so inconvenient to launch boats there that “the boat launch isn’t being used” and so should be removed?

I feel that the current City Council is trying to encourage wealthy boaters who can afford to moor their boats at local marinas, and discourage the middle class boaters who have to launch their boats when they want to be on our lake.

Over the years the city has paid thousands and thousands of taxpayer dollars for study after study to try to prove to the taxpayers that we need to redesign McEuen Field “for us.” What the city really means is they want to have a park that attracts wealthy people who will spend money and keep the downtown businesses thriving. We’re talking millions of dollars in tax money. Why should city residents have to foot the bill?

Who made that decision? That’s why I’m in favor of a recall.

LAURIE LYONS

Coeur d’Alene