More mistruths surrounding proposed tennis, pickleball facility

In April, City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton announced there’d be a ground-breaking ceremony in early July to begin construction of an indoor sports facility at Travers Park. But then, quietly, it was postponed, claiming "construction supply shortages." She recently told several residents that electrical and HVAC were specifically the hold-up. Hmmmm?

Consider that a cover story. The truth is, a special permit from the National Park Service is needed to build any indoor structures at Travers Park. In 1985, when a federal-funded Land and Water Conservation grant turned the city dump on Pine Street into athletic fields, the city agreed to "hold the land into perpetuity for outdoor recreation." The city doesn’t have the paperwork to start construction — at least not yet.

I also learned through a public record request that the city’s $560,000 grant application for a million-dollar artificial-turfed playground did not divulge their plan to destroy 10 large, healthy park trees. Clearly, this would’ve affected the evaluation scoring regarding "potential resource damage" had they been completely honest.

The needs of our community are being well served by Travers Park’s sturdy ADA-access playground. Yes, a splash pad and some more features for younger children would be wonderful to add (the operative word).

Regarding the new Russell Sports Building, the city’s property just north of Travers Park (called Great Northern Park) is suitable, according to the architect. Its land was not developed using LWCF funds and is without trees. Its poorly draining fields often result in canceled games in the spring. This is public land, and Sandpoint residents should have a voice in this decision.

Please contact the mayor and council members to weigh in before it’s too late. We need better direction than the way this has been steered by the city administrator. Travers Park is for outdoor play.

REBECCA HOLLAND

Sandpoint