East Sherman to party Friday

Coeur d’Alene residents can get another glimpse of the future look of East Sherman Avenue during a two-day block party this weekend.

The city’s second annual PARK(ing) It On Sherman will be 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday in the 1200 block of Sherman.

A goal of the free celebration is to showcase the vision and planning effort to revitalize East Sherman. The improvements include new benches with planter boxes and a mural to be painted during the event on the liquor store on Sherman.

Also, the city and the CDA 2030 community visioning effort will seek public donations for a new rapid-flash, pedestrian-activated crosswalk signal at 13th Street and Sherman. The city plans to install the same systems at the intersections of 9th and 21st streets and wants to do a third signal at 13th if donations help cover the cost.

The block party will feature live music, performances by student jugglers and a BMX bike team, a pop-up town hall meeting , a beer garden and food trucks, and a showing of the new “Jungle Book” movie, hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the green space next to the 1210 Tavern/ SR.

DFO: I really like the city’s approach to upgrading East Sherman Avenue. It’s more organic than forced. And there’s potential for that long-neglected part of town to transform slowly into something swell. Thoughts?