McEUEN: Visitors praise the park

Well done Coeur d’Alene! The reconstructed McEuen Park is a true treasure in an already beautiful city situated on a beautiful lake, surrounded by beautiful mountains, and home to warm and friendly people. We travel frequently from our home in Montana to destinations in Oregon and Washington throughout the year and make it a point to spend time in Coeur d’Alene. We thoroughly enjoy your city and the surrounding area and have watched the reconstruction of McEuen Park with great interest and anticipation.

Our most recent visit was just a few days ago. The excitement in the air was palpable. We visited with a number of people all of whom were positively jubilant about the park. The new parking structure, for example, is the best we have come across affording easy access, pleasing aesthetics, safety and splendid proximity to the park, the lake and Sherman Avenue.

We are aware of the strikingly different opinions and the recall effort surrounding the reconstruction of the park. Public spending decisions of this magnitude rightly merit scrutiny and must survive the weight of other pressing needs. We believe that the City Council’s decision to move forward with the reconstruction does serve the public interest. We hope that the magnificence found in the end result will bring the people of Coeur d’Alene together.

Thank you for McEuen Park. Our visits to Coeur d’Alene will increase in both frequency and duration. We will encourage friends and family to do the same.

PATRICK J. JOHNSON

Helena, Mont.