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MILL SITE: We need more green space

| April 29, 2018 1:00 AM

I went to the public meeting last night and was totally horrified. After watching McEuen Park turn into a major, positive addition to Coeur d’Alene, I was expecting similar from this “Public” acquisition. Not so. This is a private subdivision with a wee bike/pedestrian path wending through it.

There is no beach for the kiddos. There is no playground. There is no amphitheater. There is laughing access for a kayak or SUP off a dock. What am I supposed to do when I lead a group of kayakers with 10-foot to 17-foot kayaks down this wee path to the single access dock? There is a water access dog park which keeps getting moved and looks like now it is really close to dropping off the map. There is a ball field off on the north 40, which may be on contaminated land and may not be feasible. But the condos, townhouses, single family homes and commercial lots are set in a concrete subdivision.

Today in America we do not need “visual access” to the river. We need physical access. We need people to get out and physically “Do” activities. Not sit there and visualize them.

I feel like Coeur d’Alene was sold down the Spokane River. This is probably the last “public” access. It needs to stay public. With all the people moving here and Coeur d’Alene Park and McEuen filling, we need more green space. Not a wee, winding ribbon.

VICKIE LOCKEN

Coeur d’Alene