I've begun reading an advance copy of Jon Mueller's history of Coeur d'Alene City Park: "Private Park, Public Park." But it's much more than a history of one of the city's favorite pieces of public ground. The history of City Park pulls back the curtain on how things came to be in Coeur d'Alene. It was part of the 999 acres on both sides of the Spokane River that was set aside for Fort Coeur d'Alene/Sherman back in the day. The soldiers in the fort provide culture and civilization for the unruly townspeople in the haphazard community growing up on its eastern edge. The fort grounds (what we now know as City Park, Memorial Field, North Idaho College Campus, City Beach) was key to the development of Coeur d'Alene. Can't wait to get to Chapter 3 tonight. Here's your Wild Card ...