Where public meets private, messes can occur

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — Neighbors' frustrations over obnoxious behavior at a park and related home access issues have led to discovery of a 50-year encroachment, leaving the county, highway district and homeowners wading through the mess.

County commissioners and the Post Falls Highway District denied homeowners' requests to close McGuire Park and on-street parking during the peak summer season at the site along the Spokane River below the Post Falls Dam.

However, county leaders and the highway district agreed to explore how to improve and expand parking at the park, and it was determined a homeowner's access via the park encroached on a district easement.

County commissioners on Wednesday heard the homeowners' frustrations and ideas on how to make the park's users more neighbor friendly, but cautioned they are trying to make accommodations without mandating a new access directly off Breezy Way.

"The access should be from the road (and not the park) if you want to play hardball," Commissioner Marc Eberlein told homeowner Kris Phillips, who lives next to the park's gravel parking lot.

The park was dedicated in the mid-’50s, while the house Phillips recently moved into was built in 1967.

"The home was designed with access through a public park without an easement," said Nick Snyder, the county's Parks and Waterways director.

Phillips said all she's asking is that her access not be restricted by park users, as has been the case for the past 50 years.

"I'm stuck (without access) until they decide to leave," Phillips said.

Meanwhile, Cathryn Keim, who spoke on behalf of the neighborhood watch group and lives next to Phillips, said she was told by a fire marshal that the wooded area has become a fire hazard due to the increase in use and limited access.

She said she has lived there 20 years and had no problems until more people, particularly floaters, started using the park.

"People have puked in our yards," she said. "One man didn't like the no parking sign, so for five minutes he blew on his horn."

Keim said that by the time deputies arrive to respond to complaints, the offenders are usually gone.

She said it's unfortunate that she feels she has to take a vacation to get away from the noise and behavior in August, which is when they enjoy their neighborhood and river the most.

Keim requested that floaters be prohibited from the park, but commissioners said they couldn't do that.

"As long as there is more than one of us in a room, there could always be something that pokes us," Commissioner Bob Bingham told Keim.

Brenda Simms, who also lives on Breezy Way, agrees that not allowing specific groups to use the park is not the answer.

"I think the river is there for all of us to share," she said, adding that she's pleased the county and highway district are trying to address homeowners' concerns.

Snyder presented the commissioners a conceptual plan coordinated by his department and the highway district that includes improvements such as expanded gravel parking, tree removal, a temporary unloading/loading zone, signage and a new fence line.

A final plan will be developed and brought back to the commissioners based on some of the homeowner input.

Among the suggestions Phillips made was to install signs asking park users to not block the driveway, rather than no parking signs, which might increase compliance. She said she has concerns that residents in the unloading/loading zone will still block her driveway.

The highway district funded the survey, will perform the tree removal and bring in gravel. The parks department will install the new fence that will allow for more parking.

Snyder believes the plan will create more order in terms of parking at the park.

"Currently right now it's a free for all," he said.