Coolin park is community effort

On the shore of Priest Lake, residents of the small community of Coolin have come together to build a park and playground.

The park gives families who live year-round in the resort area a place to bring children. The only other public playground is a 20-minute drive away at Priest Lake Elementary School – too far for local children on summer bike rides.

“All of Priest Lake is a park, but a specifically designated community park … is like giving ourselves a little treat,” said Teri Hill, coordinator for People Helping People, a local nonprofit that gave $15,000 toward the park.

Area residents donated building materials and their own labor, even the 1.5-acre lot on which the park sits, a quarter-mile from the lake.

Coolin Civic Organization President Janet Langley, with her husband, Merle, gave the land to Bonner County in 2005, and they have been raising funds since then. The civic organization will pay yearly maintenance costs while the county will cover the park’s insurance, Janet Langley said.

Longtime area residents, the Langleys saw the need for a park several years ago and rallied support from the community’s 120 residents. “Everybody just seems to be coming up to Merle and me and saying, ‘How can I help?’ ” Langley said.

The park includes a playground, sandbox, half-court basketball and a shelter with a barbecue pit. Langley’s group is still raising money to build a restroom.