City of Coeur d'Alene - Veterans Centennial Park Master Planning

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Veterans Centennial Park Master Planning

The Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation Commission is seeking your input and ideas for Veterans Centennial Park as we work to develop a long-term vision, through what's known as a Master Plan, for this community park.

Join us at 5:30 p.m. November 20 in the Coeur d'Alene Public Library Community Room, 702 E. Front Avenue, for an open house to review the draft master plan to help improve this community asset for generations to come.

Emma Van Laken donated the 16-acre property on Fernan Hill in 1997 and the Panhandle Parks Foundation holds the property in trust on behalf of the City. The master planning process involves expanding on the ideas adopted as part of the 2012 Natural Open Space Management Plan, which reflects high-level concepts for what Veterans Centennial Park could become in the future in compliance with the donor's wishes. The City has taken the initial high-level planning from 2012 and begun a process to create a draft master plan to begin working to future improvements of the park.

This master plan is intended to serve as a long-term guide to creating a passive public park and at this time no funding has been identified for implementation of this plan. Ultimately, based on input provided by the citizens of Coeur d’Alene, it is hoped that this plan is approved by the City Council to ensure that a passive park is eventually created on this property that was so generously donated for this expressed purpose.

Documents
The Seagraves Family - a History
Veterans Centennial Park Proximity Map
Park Property Lines Map
Veterans Centennial Park Open Space Management Plan Section
Conceptual Design Drawing

More Information

This property is accessible from Fernan Hill Road via an easement and from the west end of Balcony Drive. About eight acres of the property consists of a relatively level open field, with the remainder being a heavily wooded hillside. With the gift of the site, the donor stipulated that the property be used as a public park for passive recreational uses and not for activities such as organized sports. Emma Van Laken also asked that the park honor veterans and carry the Seagraves name.

The City’s Urban Forestry Committee has recommended that part of the site be used as an arboretum featuring native plants. Other passive uses supported by the 2012 Natural Open Space Management Plan include picnicking, hiking, interpretive programs and free play. The City's conceptual improvements design includes areas set aside for a veterans memorial, a small playground, and a covered shelter. The wooded section of the property would remain that way with the addition of trails.