Donor wall adds to K27 memorial at McEuen
DEVIN HEILMAN/Press Panhandle Parks Foundation executive director Tracy Meyers shares information about the K27 Sgt. Greg Moore Memorial with Dale Foster of Hayden as he takes a quick break from a morning bike ride Tuesday in McEuen Park. Also pictured are Meyers’ daughter, Paige Wilton, 11, and Tinka Schaffer, who is on the PPF board and K27 Project Committee.
DEVIN HEILMAN/Press This sign stands at the future site of the Sgt. Greg Moore K27 Memorial near the Fourth Street entrance to McEuen Park. The Panhandle Parks Foundation had a table in the park Tuesday to update the community about the memorial’s progress as well as invite people to contribute to the McEuen Donor Wall.
DEVIN HEILMAN/Press Blue, silver and gold balloons wave in the breeze above a granite plaque of the McEuen Donor Wall, which had names blasted into it early Tuesday morning. Representatives of the Panhandle Parks Foundation and K27 Project Committee had an informational table in the park to update the community about the progress of the K27 Memorial and donor wall opportunities.
COEUR d’ALENE — Blue, silver and gold star balloons flapped in the breeze above the granite plaques where names were freshly etched into the McEuen Park Donor Wall.
“We’re up to about 100 (names) right now, so we are thrilled that we have that many," said Tinka Schaffer, who serves on the board of the Panhandle Parks Foundation. "We encourage folks to come and remember people."
Schaffer and PPF executive director Tracy Meyers had an informational table Tuesday in McEuen Park as they invited the public to see the new donor engravings. The McEuen Park Donor Wall features family and corporate names as well as historical North Idaho photos.
"The Donor Wall is a great way to recognize loved ones, family, friends, also to promote businesses,” Meyers said. "We definitely have room to fill. These empty plaques are all space that we have for people that are interested."
Schaffer and Meyers also provided an update about the K27 Sgt. Greg Moore Memorial. Meyers said the dream is to reach the $300,000 fundraising goal by Labor Day, with groundbreaking immediately to follow. The hopes are for the project to be complete by Thanksgiving.
"It’s coming along good,” said Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer. “Any project like this takes a lot of work. We’ve been working hard at it for a year and a couple months, and we’re up to about $250,000, so we’re in the final stages of that."
Dale Foster of Hayden stopped his bike at the table to learn more about the K27 Memorial.
"I think it's a great way to memorialize Sgt. Moore who got shot. That (memorial) would be fantastic. And the whole McEuen Park, it just fits right in," Foster said. "They’ve done a great job with this whole park, particularly after the controversy that it went through to get here. I wish those naysayers came out here and saw it once in a while because it came out wonderful. It's a great attraction for our city."
Phase 1 of the K27 Memorial Waterscape will feature three waterfalls: Respect, Honor and Remember. Eight benches will be placed nearby and the waterway will have LED lights. Three monument pillars will also be placed along the banks.
“The board has worked very hard on this project and we’re all committed," Schaffer said. "I have a son-in-law who was law enforcement and retired just this year after 28 years with the county. I know the risks law enforcement officers take."
The Donor Wall is still accepting submissions; $500 allows contributors to engrave a name on one of the plaques. PPF donated $25,000 to finance its construction, and all donations stay in the community to help develop amenities for existing parks as well as secure property for future parks, open space and recreational facilities.
The K27 Memorial will continue to raise funds throughout the summer. Today starting at 4:30 p.m. in McEuen, the PPF and K27 projects will be the featured nonprofit at Live After 5 and a portion of the proceeds will go to the cause. Widmyer and family will run the booth, where they will sell tickets for the "Thin Blue Line" Alpaca Direct Afghan blanket that will be raffled off Aug. 6.
“Every generation can walk by this memorial and see how important it is to respect, honor and remember those, as well as our veterans, that give so much to keep our community safe and our children safe,” Schaffer said. "It will be also a wonderful way to honor, respect and remember folks who put their life on the line for us, the citizens of this community.”
Info: panhandleparks@gmail.com, 446-4813 or www.panhandleparksfoundation.org