Park For Five Mile In Early Planning Stage

Thu., April 13, 2000

By Isamu Jordan isamuj@spokesman.com

Early design work is under way for a 25-acre community park on Five Mile Prairie.

Hatchmueller, an architect and engineering company in Coeur d’Alene, was picked by a city parks selection committee from among six companies to design the park.

The $1.8 million project has a master plan that includes play equipment, picnic tables, and a picnic shelter. Neighbors in Five Mile also have expressed interest in the construction of a skate park built into the community park.

The community park is being funded by the $15 million park bond approved by voters in September.

Before designs can proceed, the City Council has to approve the funds for a contract with Hatchmueller. Design consultants usually get 10 percent of the total cost, according to Jim Gibson, park bond projects manager.

Gibson said it could take up to three weeks for contract approval and about four months to design the park.

Gibson projects a construction bid will be let around January for the park, which is scheduled to be built in the spring of 2001.

The city also is considering purchasing 25 acres of land that extends south of the community park.

This land would be used as a natural area and would be funded mainly by the Conservation Futures Program, which utilizes voter-approved tax money for land acquisitions.

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