Library’s locale puts it in company with city’s best

I was one of the original critics re: the location of the new Coeur d’Alene Library, at the northeast corner of McEuen Field. I figured that the library should be located closer to the center of town – and that CdA was expanding north and west. I said at the time, however, that the movers and shakers of the community could locate the library anywhere they wanted, as long as they built it entirely with doughnated money. It wasn’t, of course. A bond was passed when it became apparent that fundraising efforts wouldn’t be sufficient to build the library. Then, the City Council tossed in some more tax dollars when construction cost more than expected. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony Sunday, I realized how wrong I was about the location when I looked out the library’s western windows across McEuen Field. What a terrific view of green space, Tubbs Hill, the lake beyond and the Coeur d’Alene Resort. I was reminded of the first time I saw McEuen Field in the 1970s. I was with colleague Doug Clark, who was then the sports editor of the Coeur d’Alene Press. He was covering a softball game. I couldn’t believe that Joe and Jane Average were allowed to play softball on such a waterfront field of dreams. A few years later, I enjoyed that same privilege. I played the best softball game of my life in the late-summer Nazarene Church Tournament at McEuen Field No. 1. McEuen Field is holy ground. I’m indebted to the visionaries who endured ridicule when they agreed to pay more than $1 million for the additional property needed to secure the library location and take advantage of the viewtiful McEuen Field. They persisted when critics second-guessed them constantly. Generations of future residents will thank them, too.