About As Far As I Can Throw Him

Coeur d’Alene gardens plan a gone deal: Hagadone opposed ballot on memorial to parents / Erica Curless , Spokesman-Review

I missed this one today while I was busy writing my Monday column. (You’ll find some good new stuff in there that I didn’t run through last week.) All my Deep Throat sources are saying that Hagadone means it. The memorial garden idea is kaput — for the two blocks of Sherman Avenue. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be resurrected elsewhere. For you newcomers, I’ll say this slowly without moving my lips. Duane wants this somewhere by the waterfront and he’ll never give up on the garden until he draws his last breath.

So, that means he’s looking elsewhere. If memory serves me correctly, he coveted McEuen Field for his park a decade or so ago. Now, with the library about to be built in the same area as first planned back when — when Duane pledged $2 million for a third floor — wouldn’t it make sense if he came back with a generous donation of millions to let him have another run at McEuen Field, now that the city intends to move the legion parks and the future of the playground is up in the air. And don’t put it past the City Council to be keenly interested if such a proposal surfaced again. Mebbe this time Duane’ll be willing to kick in $5M or $10M. After all, the Sherman Avenue project was going to cost him in the $20M range. Keep your eyes on the walnut shells, friends and neighbors.

Meanwhile, I’ll still ask each municipal candidate about the garden (on Sherman or McEuen), even though The Duane reiterated his project is dead so it won’t be a campaign issue.

DFO