'Kate' back on her bike

COEUR d'ALENE — The popular bronze statue known simply as “Kate” at Riverstone Park takes the public back to a less-rushed and more peaceful time.

But for some reason, in the past few years, Kate has been a victim of the times.

Now, after being gone for nearly two years following an incident in which she was cut from her bike and stolen, the turn-of-the-century lady cyclist has returned to Riverstone Park — zipping along with her two small dogs running at her sides.

She was re-installed last week. She was stolen in January 2014. A guy who was shed-antler hunting while bike riding along the Yellowstone Trail found her in March 2014.

“Kate is popular because (she) depicts a period of time in our history when bikes were the main mode of transportation,” said Steve Anthony, the city of Coeur d’Alene’s parks and recreation director. “Having the dogs with her reflects spending quality time with her pets and all three of them getting some exercise.”

The bigger of the two dogs was also stolen, but not recovered. A new one has replaced it.

The statue, created by Coeur d’Alene artist David Clemons, was acquired in 2005 by the Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission as a gift from the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation, according to the city. It was originally located on the Centennial Trail near Stateline.

In the summer of 2003, the statue was vandalized and needed to be placed in storage. On June 21, 2005, the Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission voted to acquire the statue and have it repaired and bronzed.

In May 2007, the statue was relocated to Riverstone Park.