Travers Park changes enough to make one weep

Please take the time soon to visit Travers Park. Prepare yourself, however. I didn’t prepare myself before I went to the park this week. What I saw made me weep. The “sports center” building is huge, many times larger than I imagined it would be. 

Shame on the city officials who couldn’t see past a $7,000,000 “gift with strings” and shame on the rest of us for not getting involved in the process before the city declared it was too late for us to be heard. 

Now that we’re past the city’s second city administrator position (our first regrettable experience was from November 1978 to July 1981), here’s hoping the new "community development director” isn’t just another city administrator with a different title. 

Let this be a huge lesson for us. We must remain vigilant. We must become and remain involved. The next challenge could be our beloved city beach. We can’t let it fall to the visions of those who too often think in terms of bigger and more and out-of-place structures and uses that aren’t compatible in that sacred space. Let’s not lose going to the beach for quiet, restful viewing of breathtaking scenery and watching children and grandchildren learn to swim and play in the water.

Vigilance. It’s up to us. 

HELEN NEWTON

Sandpoint