Four corners report

COEUR d'ALENE - A new review committee for the city's "four corners" project met privately Monday to discuss project elements which could eventually transform the six-mile public corridor's waterfront.

According to Keith Erickson, the city's spokesman, a decision was made to meet without the media present so the advisory committee members would be able to share their ideas freely.

Erickson wrote a report about the elements of the project that were discussed during the Monday meeting and released his report to the media on Tuesday.

According to Erickson, the committee discussed the possible reconfiguration of parking at Independence Point and the Museum of North Idaho.

"(That) will be among the first considerations as officials move forward with a master plan to transform a corridor along the Spokane River that stretches from downtown to Huetter Road," Erickson wrote.

Erickson's report said Welch Comer Engineers is looking at ways to reduce parking at Independence Point and provide more green space near the water.

Parking near the museum would be expanded for an overall gain in parking spaces downtown. Erickson wrote that handicapped parking at Independence Point would not be reduced but reconfigured to provide better access to the water.

"Work could occur as early as next spring," the report said.

Erickson's report said the review committee toured the property Monday and considered a wide range of possibilities for the six-mile strip that runs from Independence Point to Huetter along the Spokane River.

Other possible projects discussed by the review committee included the construction of a commuter trail alongside Northwest Boulevard, which would eventually connect with the Centennial Trail.

According to Erickson's report, the city may consider partnering with Kootenai County to develop a parking facility that could be used by county employees as well as the public.

Erickson wrote that the committee also discussed the structural integrity of the grandstand at Memorial Field, which may need to be beefed up, but there are no plans to remove the historic baseball park.

The committee also discussed partnering with North Idaho College to develop an events center and expand green space, Erickson wrote.

Other ideas were discussed, such as ball fields along the Centennial Trail near the U.S. 95 bridge, and the potential for a new pedestrian bridge beneath the vehicle bridge leading to the south side of the river, according to the report.

"Farther west, there is discussion of working with land owners to secure public access to the Spokane River," Erickson wrote, "including the development of trails and parks along the water and expansion of Riverstone Park to the river."

Erickson reported there will be "numerous opportunities for public input during the master plan process, including two community workshops, city council meetings, and a joint meeting between the Lake City Development Corp. and city's parks and recreation commission.

Twenty-two "small groups" will also have an opportunity to weigh in, he wrote.

The nine-member review committee consists of two elected officials, City Councilmember Amy Evans and Mayor Steve Widmyer.

There are two representatives from the Lake City Development Corp., including Executive Director Tony Berns and Dave Patzer, a board member for the LCDC who also sits on the city's parks and recreation commission.

Two city staff - interim Parks Director Bill Greenwood and Recreation Director Steve Anthony - are on the committee with Scott Cranston, chairman of the parks and recreation commission.

Janna Paronto, realty specialist with the Bureau of Land Management; and Mark Browning, vice president for community relations at NIC, also sit on the committee.

Adoption of the master plan is anticipated in February 2015.