Field of dreams now a reality

COEUR d'ALENE — The dream has become reality.

The first game was played Tuesday evening on the new Viking Field at Coeur d'Alene High School. It commenced with a special soccer ball rollout by Coeur d'Alene Tribal Council Vice Chairman Hemene James and incoming CHS junior Chief Allan, a varsity soccer player and son of Coeur d'Alene Tribal Council Chairman Chief Allan.

"Wow," James said as he walked onto the new field. "Absolutely beautiful. Absolutely amazing. Beautiful field."

The nearly $1.4 million Viking Field of Dreams project that launched last summer has been 100% supported by the community at no cost to the Coeur d'Alene School District. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe contributed $250,000 and was honored with the placement of the Tribe's logo on the field on the 15-yard lines.

James said the Tribe committed long ago, voluntarily with its tribal state gaming compact, to contribute to not only the youth of its reservation but to those within the entire region.

"Not just within the state of Idaho, but within our aboriginal territory, which we still consider here in Coeur d'Alene our homelands," James said. "Not for the benefit for the Tribe, but for all those that we share this area with. I think this is just the latest stage of putting action to that commitment that was made by our past leadership. Chairman Allan has done an outstanding job of keeping that commitment and showing that commitment in his actions."

Allan would have participated in the opening ceremony, but is still recovering from injuries sustained in a watercraft explosion in early July.

"He's recovering," said Coeur d'Alene Tribe Legislative Director Tyrel Stevenson. "He's expected to make a full recovery and he's working hard at it. Hopefully he'll be out here walking around before too long."

The younger Chief examined the Tribe's logo before the ball rollout. He said the Tribe likes to support the community, especially when it comes to education.

"It's in the logo, the quill and the book," he said. "It's one of the core values the Tribe has surrounding scholarship and focusing on education. They love helping out all the community and the surrounding area. The turf field is something Coeur d'Alene has wanted for a long time."

Rick Rasmussen, Coeur d'Alene High School Viking Booster Club and Education Foundation president, has been one of the drivers of this community-led venture. He grew up in Coeur d'Alene and played on the first state championship Viking football team in 1982.

"To see this in our community and to see how people stepped forward is unbelievable," he said.

This field is for kids now and the kids who will use it in the future, he said, including for P.E. classes and more.

"In this day and age when people are fighting about NIC, they're saying bad things about school, how a community came together to say, 'Hey we're going to make it about kids and our community,' it's pretty special," he said. "It's not just rolling out some carpet. It's done right here."

Also included in the field upgrade are a new video scoreboard, a new sound system, new gated entrances, a relocation of the long jump pit, improvements to the shot put area and the addition of a discus training area.

The Coeur d'Alene girls varsity soccer team practiced on the field before going up against Lakeland High. They had sweat on their brows and rain in their hair as they found their footing on the new terrain. A few said they think the new field and its amenities will draw more people to watch the games. Another player was impressed by how fast the balls go on the artificial turf.

"We're so honored to be the first game of the season," said Remi Menier, a senior and one of four team captains. "It's a really big deal and we're very aware of that, so we're making sure we're going to make everyone proud."

Ella Morton, another team captain, said she was impressed with how the community got behind the new field project.

"We're super excited, especially as seniors," she said. "It's huge. The start of a new legacy."