Protesters decry Sanders Beach ruling
About 75 protesters came to the Coeur d’Alene lakefront Sunday to demonstrate their love for Sanders Beach and their frustration with a Sept. 22 court ruling declaring the beach private property between 12th and 15th streets.
The protesters circled through the entrances at each end of the beach, where there’s still public access, and through the water in front of the now-private section of beach.
Despite the Idaho Supreme Court ruling, homeowner Greg Crimp continued to welcome the public Sunday. As the protesters walked in the wet sand past Crimp’s home, they were greeted with signs bearing messages like their own, in sharp contrast to the “private property” signs posted on neighbors’ fences.
“Ul Chil Pust” was written in chalk on the seawall in front of Crimp’s home. Crimp, brother of Mayor Sandi Bloem, said the Coeur d’Alene Indian phrase translates to “it belongs to all of us.”
Mason Crabtree, 3, was one of the youngest protesters.
“My great grandpa, my grandpa and my daddy all swam here. I don’t get to,” said the sign Mason carried.
His grandfather, Mike Wimmer, wore a T-shirt that said “Free Sanders Beach.” He bought the shirt three years ago when tensions between property owners and beachgoers began increasing.
“Since the beginning of the century, this has been a beach where all the family could come to,” said Wimmer, who said he’s been using the beach since 1961. “Times are changing. Maybe we’ll never get it back, the community feeling in Coeur d’Alene.”
Coeur d’Alene resident Jan Nuszkiewicz watched three of her granddaughters play in the sand before Sunday’s protest. They built things out of twigs, driftwood and rocks – something they enjoy doing on the summer days when their grandma brings them to the beach.
“It’s just disappointing,” Nuszkiewicz said of the Supreme Court decision. “We’ve been coming down here our entire lives. I’ve been coming down here since I was a baby.”
The beach holds memories going back five generations in her family, she said. The beach also has part of her toe. She cut it on a piece of broken glass when she was a teen.
Some other property owners watched the protesters walk past in the water, on the lake side of an invisible line that divides public and private property.
“It’s America,” said one homeowner, when asked how he felt. “They can protest if they want to.”
Some signs accused the homeowners of being greedy.
“Elitism Stinks,” read one sign. “Close Courts 4 The Rich,” read another.
Other signs thanked Bloem and the attorneys who pushed for a decision to end the dispute between property owners and beach users.
The mayor was there in front of her brother’s home Sunday, along with Councilman Ron Edinger.
Bloem declined to comment on the beach controversy.
“The intent of this was to thank the mayor and the council,” Bloem said of the demonstration. “We appreciate them taking the time to thank us.”
Crimp and his wife, Shana, are the only homeowners at Sanders Beach who support keeping the beach public.
“Past generations of children and families have enjoyed this beach,” Crimp said. “It’s been emanated both in court and the papers that it’s not the case anymore. Frankly, I haven’t seen that kind of change.”
Crimp said he hasn’t seen the type of public abuse of the beach that his neighbors have complained about, either, like garbage and noise.
“The beach is going to have a deafening sad sound of silence compared to the noises of children playing in the water,” he said, his eyes shining with tears.