Plan surfaces for Cd'A waterfront

Waterfront property along Lake Coeur d’Alene annually connects hundreds of thousands of walkers, joggers, bicyclists, boarders, rollerbladers, tourists and everyone else between two major city hubs: downtown and North Idaho College.

But infrastructure along what many folks consider one of Idaho’s most valuable pieces of public real estate is aging.

“There’s just been deferred maintenance and literally degradation of the walkway itself that has happened over the last 10 or 15 years,” said Tom Torgerson, who is helping lead a newly proposed concept to revitalize City Park waterfront promenade area from Independence Point to Park Drive. 

Torgerson, joined by Coeur d’Alene resident Doug Eastwood, informed Parks and Recreation Commission during a Tuesday special meeting that the proposal involves forming an ad hoc committee to develop concepts and recommendations for future improvements to the area.

The effort also includes facilitating funding sources and donations, Torgerson said. Cost estimates will then be shared with the Parks and Recreation Commission.

“It is unbelievable the amount of lakeshore frontage the public has access to, and that happens to be the focal point,” he said of City Park. “We just want to give it the respect that nature deserves.”

The history of the waterfront area at City Park stretches back to the early 20th century, according to the Museum of North Idaho. Originally called Blackwell Park, rudimentary wood and timber associated with nearby industrial and lumber operations made up the early shoreline seawall.

By 1976, however, stone and concrete were used to build a new seawall.

Nowadays, according to an economic impact study conducted by the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation and the University of Idaho, the promenade area is one of the most heavily used pedestrian corridors in Idaho, with estimates of 800,000 to 1 million annual users. 

But it's experienced challenges.

Torgerson and Eastwood said this includes aging infrastructure, damaged concrete, outdated furnishings, and loss of landscaping.

“It’s some of the most valuable property and highest used property probably anywhere in the Northwest and it looks terrible,” Eastwood said.

With one committee goal being to develop improvement concepts at City Park, Eastwood discussed with the Parks and Rec Commission potential plans to widen pedestrian circulation areas, replacing aging benches and site furnishings, tree replacement strategies and more.

Trees were once in planters along the waterfront. They, however, died and the planters sit empty to this day.

Briana Azevedo, who walked her dog in City Park on Wednesday, expressed support for the landscape improvements.

“I like the idea of trees going in,” she said.

Bethany Parker, who joined Azevedo in dog walking Wednesday, echoed this support for improvements.

“I think it’s already beautiful,” she said of the waterfront. “Make it more beautiful.” 

The parks and rec commission is set to formalize the committee creation at its Oct. 19 regular meeting.

Potential participants discussed include representatives from the Parks and Recreation Commission, Parks Department staff, City engineering staff, Rotary Club, Panhandle Kiwanis, Coeur d'Alene Resort, community stakeholders and business representatives. 

“I am looking forward to working with the committee to renew and enhance one of the most valuable and beautiful pieces of city property,” Parks and Rec Director Adam Rouse told The Press on Wednesday. "This is a great opportunity to partner with the community to bring the City Park waterfront back to life.”

If a revitalization project of City Park waterfront comes to fruition, officials look to have it go out to bid in mid-summer and start construction after Labor Day, which is considered a less busy time for the park.

    A bench at City Park in Coeur d'Alene on Wednesday.
  

    An AI-generated concept picture depicting what the City Park waterfront promenade area could look like if a proposed revitalization project comes to fruition.