Rec Center Supporters Stir Emotions Opponents Sit Quietly As Backers Show Passion For $6.3 Million Project

Steve Anthony could hardly get a word out before tears flowed and his lower jaw tightened.

Slowly, with pauses, the Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation director described to about 200 people his 23-year struggle to fix old buildings and failed efforts to build a new community center.

“The dream didn’t die,” Anthony said. “We may not have the answers to everything, but it came from the heart.”

Anthony and a host of other city officials and Center Project Foundation volunteers spoke in support of the proposed $6.3 million community center at a 6 p.m. rally at Woodland Middle School.

An advisory vote on the community center survived a lobbying effort this week by Concerned Businesses of North Idaho to remove it from the Nov. 2 ballot.

Janet Robnett, vice president of the foundation, pointed out that even officials of Concerned Businesses agree the center is needed.

“We’d encourage Concerned Businesses who have not challenged the `why’ but the `how’ to work with us to make the community center the best it can be,” Robnett said to applause.

Bret Bowers, executive director of Concerned Businesses, attended the rally but did not speak.

On Tuesday, Bowers said his organization had doubts about a market analysis and fears that the proposed funding structure to pay for $900,000 in annual operating costs could be a disaster to taxpayers.

Bowers also promised that if the City Council did not remove the advisory vote from the ballot, the city could expect an aggressive campaign to inform residents about how their taxes will go up.

Center Foundation President Sue Thilo said the support she has received in favor of the center has shocked her.

“We are fully committed to signing 2,000 memberships before we break ground,” Thilo said. “We will raise $1 million. It’s a viable plan. The only commitment I can’t make is to my own family - the house is going to be a pit until we get this all done.”

Plans call for a 60,000-square-foot center that will include a 25-yard-by-25-meter L-shaped swimming pool, a gymnasium, an elevated track, a 40-foot climbing wall, exercise and fitness space, office space, meeting rooms and locker rooms.

The plan has been criticized by some health club owners who fear the center would hurt business.

Bob Thomas, who owns Body Perfection Inc. in Hayden, said his business is based on helping people exercise in their homes.

“There may be people who would go to the community center who would not buy equipment from me,” Thomas said. “But if the community center goes through, I’d be willing to bet my business goes up.”

Bradley Dugdale, the 14-year-old son of Concerned Businesses’ board member Brad Dugdale, presented petitions with more than 500 students who signed in favor of the center.

Bob Wood said the struggle to find a pool has cut the number of competitive swimmers in the area by more than half.

“This is a swimming suit. These are goggles. Just add water,” he told the crowd. “Give me that pool, and I’ll give you 200 competitive swimmers.”

Thilo and Mayor Steve Judy answered questions at the meeting. One man asked when construction could begin if the vote passes by more than 50 percent.

“Once we hit the 2,000 membership mark,” Judy said, “we have talked ambitiously about breaking ground by next summer.”