A park on the lake

SPIRIT LAKE - Rod Erickson's dream of converting the historic Fireside Lodge site into a city park on Spirit Lake will become reality.

The Spirit Lake Urban Renewal Agency on Friday purchased the property on the mill pond - part of Spirit Lake - from Erickson and his wife, Nancy, for $500,000.

"I'm definitely in favor of it being a park because it will give kids a place to go fishing and swimming," Erickson said. "Grandma and grandpa will be able to take their grandkids there and have a picnic lunch."

It will be Spirit Lake's first waterfront park after the URA turns it over to the city.

The property is across the street from the public boat launch.

It will tie in nicely with the city's parks and recreation building at the launch that offers summer rentals, said Karl Harmon, URA chairman.

The site is just over one acre. Most of it is in the urban renewal district and being funded by the URA, but Erickson is donating .18 of an acre to the city. The entire site was appraised at $620,000.

Plans for the three-story, 6,000-square-foot Fireside Lodge - built in 1907 and formerly the Panhandle Lumber Company office - are unclear.

The first choice for local officials would be to move it and convert it into a museum. That idea has already been explored.

"In order to improve the property as a park, the building will ultimately need to be removed," Harmon said.

URA funds can't be used to improve or move the building because that isn't in the urban renewal plan, Harmon said.

The building was moved to the property from a nearby location in 1945.

Erickson, who started playing music in the building in 1970, acquired it in 1989.

The Ericksons have run a bed and breakfast, gift shop, restaurant and RV park out it. The business is closed during the winters, but it won't re-open this year, Erickson said.

"We're in our middle 70s and it's time to move on and do other things," he said.

The Ericksons are keeping their cabin next to the property.

"We'll be there to help with whatever projects need to be done," he said. "It's all going to take some time."

Erickson said he has been working with the URA and Marc Kroetch of the parks board on the deal for about two years.

Mayor Todd Clary said a citizen survey may be conducted inquiring about their preferred amenities for the park.

"After all, it really is their park," he said.

The property already has sewer and water so bathrooms would likely be built.

Harmon said this will likely be the last big project for the urban renewal district, which closes in 2015. The URA also funded downtown improvements, lighting in City Park and a pathway from downtown to the boat launch.

Erickson earlier sold 1.3 acres to Idaho Fish and Game for the boat launch's parking lot, passing up a developer's offer.

"I'd much rather see (public access) than condos or anything else," Erickson said. "When I was a kid I spent a lot of time fishing and people need a place to go so they're not getting into mischief."