VISITORS: Punished for patronage

Last weekend, North Idaho College hosted a girl’s softball tournament here in Coeur d’Alene. The games were played at Ramsey and Finucane parks. There were teams here from Boise and Washington.

Anyone who watches softball at Finucane Park knows there aren’t enough parking spaces. On Sunday afternoon, the sheriff’s department was out ticketing vehicles parked on the side of the street. That really makes our city and softball program look good, don’t you think?

People come here and spend their money in our restaurants and hotels and then get a ticket for parking on the side of the road when there is nowhere else to park. If the sheriff’s office is so eager to alienate people, come into the park and write the 20 or so people who brought their dogs to the parks despite those signs.

Hayden City Council, please take note. You could move the playground equipment to centerfield and use some of that grassy area for more parking.

VICKIE CURRIE

Coeur d’Alene