Lake City carousel awaits ponies

A horse from the former Playland Pier carousel in Coeur d’Alene is shown by Richard Le Francis, former president of the Coeur d’Alene Carousel Foundation, in this March 7, 2011, photo. (Kathy Plonka/SR photo)

A new building for an old carousel has risen in downtown Coeur d’Alene, but the ponies won’t be spinning until next spring.

The historic carnival carousel once operated at Playland Pier on the city’s lakefront, but it has sat in storage for years.

A community group raised money for a new home for the 1922 Stillman carousel next to Memorial Field near City Park.

Organizers had hoped to complete the project and begin offering rides this year, but poor weather in October and minor design changes delayed the work.

“The carousel construction has been moving slowly, as of late,” said Cari Fraser, president of the Coeur d’Alene Carousel Foundation. “We are on pace to be open spring 2017. I am hoping for an April opening, but as I am learning, not everything goes as planned.”

The group anticipates a grand opening in June/ Scott Maben , SR. More here .