Waterfront giveaway is a bad deal for Sandpoint

The city’s waterfront giveaway proposal cheats Sandpoint. Do you realize that all the lawn between the Edgewater Motel and the beach is city property? Public property. It has world-class views of the lake, sailboats and mountains. It’s a great place for picnics, games and swimming. How about a widened trail that protects young cyclists from motel parking as they pedal to the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail? This waterfront is our most valuable, under-appreciated public land. Let’s add it to City Beach Park, and have it join our legacy for future generations.

But … meantime, the city is negotiating to give it to the motel owners in exchange for a far less significant parcel, the RV park you hardly notice next to the railroad track.

Years ago, our farsighted city leaders built the City Beach peninsula. Let’s be true to that vision. Make a real park of the grass between the hotel and the water. We own it, let’s use it. Call 208-263-3310 and direct your message to the mayor and council members.

STEVE LOCKWOOD

Sandpoint