Preserving Public Spaces Outweighs Need For Additional Parking Space

The first real hint of summer weather in recent days has started bringing residents and visitors back to Coeur d’Alene’s popular parks and beaches.

So many visitors come here because of this accessibility. And so many of us moved here for it.

The great public trails and neighborhood parks are an important part of the mix and a major reason we’ve chosen to live here.

That’s why government at all levels should do all it can to preserve the public spaces. Park space should never become parking space. People will come to Coeur d’Alene and use its waterfront even if they have to park a few blocks away.

If people aren’t “buying” downtown, it’s not because it’s tough to find a parking space. It’s because they aren’t interested in the product. If people want to be downtown, they will find a place to park.

These thoughts occur because one piece of public park space which may be in jeopardy is the six Rotary Tennis Courts. Some people would like to turn the courts into a parking area, to accommodate more downtown parkers and boat-launch traffic.

Just looking from Front Street from the tennis courts to the ball field to Tubbs Hill to the lake is such an asset - rather than looking at parked cars. Additional parking can be sited away from the park. If the tennis courts are in poor shape, perhaps the service club they’re named after should be asked if they can help maintain them.

The building at 1928 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, that previously was the home of Duncan’s Garden Center is now Bear Springs Crafts at the Junction.

Bear Springs Crafts moved from 1606 Third St. “At the Junction” was added to the name to incorporate several other businesses into the large building and its outdoor area.

It now includes a multitude of crafts, rubber stamping and antiques. Classes are offered (including for children) in creating rubber stamps, scrapbooks, tole painting, paper-making and pop-up cards. Eventually the building may include a tea room and light foods and beverages.

Owner Mayvis Sloan was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene. She is leasing the building from Steve Bedraun, who two years ago moved Duncan’s Garden Center to Kathleen Avenue.

Veteran restaurateur Tim Rooney once again is running the dinner house at Tobler’s Marina on the south shore of Hayden Lake.

In the early days of the marina, the eatery was a hamburger bar to serve boaters. In the late ‘70s it became Jackson’s. In the last 15 years it has been Timothy’s (under Rooney’s ownership), Trader on the Lake and Turtles.

It is now Jake’s on the Lake. Seating up to 150 people inside and outside on the ample deck, Jake’s offers quality steaks, prime rib, seafood, pasta, lamb and salads.

The full bar opens weekdays at 4 p.m.; dinner begins at 5. Burgers and sandwiches are on the grill at 11 a.m. weekends.

Originally from New Jersey and educated in Minnesota, Rooney has considerable experiences in the food and beverage business. He came to North Idaho from California.

The open house for Bridle Path Manor Bed & Breakfast (11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday) offers far more than a polite tour of a clean, quaint place to stay. Included will be a miniature horse show, horse-training demonstrations, pony and donkey cart rides, a children’s corral play station and a batting cage. Bring a picnic or enter a chili cook-off.

The 32-acre facility, fenced into four pastures, includes a large, heated barn and equestrian center, with lessons in riding, training, horse care, exercising and boarding. An indoor arena is planned for shows and competitions.

The English Tudor-style house features five suites and formal dining room, living room and family room with fireplaces. Bridle Path B&B is one mile east of Highway 95 on Lancaster Road. Phone 762-3126.

Owners are Kim and Mike Poulin and Kim’s parents, Joseph and Dorothy Morelli, who came to North Idaho from The Bronx in New York four years ago. Kim serves as manager.

The Job Service in Kootenai County has a record number of open job orders this summer, with some 430 job openings advertised, said Lee Allmann, a consultant with the agency. The previous record was 301 in June 1995.

Many of the openings are service and seasonal jobs, Allmann said. The openings include a summer Youth Service and a “Rent-a-kid” program.

In addition, Allmann said, the Job Service is down to 9,000 active job applicants, from more than 10,000. Most of the applicants are under-employed, not unemployed, he added. For information, call the agency at 769-1558 or its 24-hour job line at 769-1550.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Nils Rosdahl The Spokesman-Review