On Monday, the city of Coeur d’Alene received the best news possible.

An announcement from the Salvation Army made a community dream come true. A room full of elected leaders, community boosters and financial supporters cheered upon learning that Coeur d’Alene will receive $65 million to build and sustain a Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center.

Only six cities in 13 Western states received the huge gifts, and Coeur d’Alene has been holding its breath since last June when it beat out Seattle, Tacoma and other cities to become a finalist.

Mayor Sandi Bloem and others who spearheaded the successful drive to land the Kroc Center deserve their city’s heartfelt thanks. Not only did they prepare a compelling application, raise $1.7 million in private funds, and jump through every hoop placed in front of them, but they did what previous community leaders have failed to do for more than 20 years – find funding for a new community center. Few capital projects have divided Coeur d’Alene more.

In the mid-1980s, former Mayor Jim Fromm’s administration stirred the town by closing a community center located in the old brick high school at Seventh Street and Montana Avenue. Recreation enthusiasts fought the move bitterly. After winter weather warped a good portion of flooring in the two buildings, supporters pushed a $3.2 million bond election in 1985 to transform them into a multipurpose center featuring a community center, library and senior center. The bond election failed. Ultimately, the two buildings were leveled to make room for Phippeny Park.

Fourteen years later, a grass-roots effort to build a $6.3 million community center on city property at Cherry Hill encountered stiff opposition from local health clubs, Concerned Businesses of North Idaho, Kootenai County Property Owners Association and Kootenai County Republicans. Opponents thought the project was too ambitious. They feared the city would be stuck underwriting the center for the long term. As a result, an advisory vote to build the community center attracted only 39 percent of the vote. The idea for a center faded after a few follow-up meetings between election supporters and detractors.

Now, thanks to the behind-the-scenes efforts by Mayor Bloem, her staff and other community leaders, Coeur d’Alene will have a community center that will far exceed the previous two proposals, complete with an aquatic center, educational center, performing arts center and field house. All tax-free. The city will also have a voter-approved new library soon. In fact, all three elements of the multipurpose center vote of 1985 will be in place as soon as the library and community center are built. Visionary senior citizens broke off to construct their own heavily used building in the Ironwood Drive medical area after the 1985 bond failure.

For years, Coeur d’Alene’s inability to build a community center undermined its reputation for pulling together to get things done. No more.