Vendor proposal makes waves in Coeur d'Alene

A proposal for a vendor to offer paddleboards and kayaks at Atlas Park was approved by the Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday, but not without dissent.  

“I feel like we are putting people in a situation that's going to be a liability to the city,” said Councilwoman Kiki Miller, adding the Spokane River in that area in the summer has waves, currents and watercrafts.

“There's just a lot that could go wrong,” Miller said. 

But the rest of the council didn’t see it that way and voted to give Parks and Recreation Director Bill Greenwood the green light to issue a request for proposals from vendors for “passive water sports rentals" at Atlas Park. 

“Atlas is up and coming,” said Councilwoman Christie Wood. “People enjoy it.” 

She said the Parks and Recreation Commission also liked the idea. 

“I support it,” Wood said. 

Atlas Park is Coeur d’Alene’s newest waterfront park and is already being used by a great number of visitors, according to a staff report. 

Greenwood said he saw people carrying boards and kayaks from the parking lot to the river and “thought it might be a good location for a commercial vendor.” 

The vendor would be located near the ADA dock, with a launch area on the beach area to the south. 

The park was constructed with an area for four food trucks to operate from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.  

“At that time, we did not consider a location for passive water sports rental to the public. Now, this is benefit to the public whose time has come,” the report said. 

“A passive water sports vendor would provide a service to the public that the City does not provide. It is in a good location in a busy area and visible to daily park visitors and new visitors,” the report said. 

Greenwood said a vendor could also act as a goodwill ambassador, offering visitors advice and input.

Councilman Dan English said one other benefit of a vendor could be to help prevent misuse of the ADA river-access ramp just down the beach, which has been a problem. 

“That could be, I think, part of the criteria,” he said, “They’re going to do something to help, be an ambassador, a little bit of watchguard, too.” 

Miller said she did not support the proposal.

She said it’s a short walk for people to carry boards and kayaks from the parking lot to the river.  

“I feel like there’s a lot of issues and problems with putting people into this busy of a water area,” she said, adding, “I’m having some real problems with trying to do this.” 

Miller said there were other places for such activities.

“I think there’s a lot happening at Atlas already," she said. "I think this is a difficult place to start putting commercial launch activity in.” 

A vendor will be selected from the proposals submitted, and an agreement could be in place for the 2025 season. Greenwood said he expects a minimum bid of about $3,000. An agreement would return to the City Council for approval.