HomeMy Public PortalAboutMcCall, Idaho: Parks and RecreationThe Idaho Statesman 8/5/79 Page #1 or 4 Pages
Doom - sayers jolted bv the saw mill's closure
are whistling a happier tune McCall
By JOHN ACCOLA
The Idaho Statesman
MCCALL — Sollie Callender, pres-
ident of Inter - Mountain State Bank,
leaned back in his chair, lit another
cigarette and tried to think back to
November 1977 when the old red mill,
after 37 years of operation, became a
reminder of McCall's past.
"Two years," said Callender un-
believingly. "How the time flies."
What may seem like ancient his-
tory today was actually a critical pe-
riod of transition for this central
Idaho community situated on the fo-
rested banks of Payette Lake. The
turning point began in 1977 when
Boise Cascade Corp., blaming na-
tional forest land -use plans for creat-
ing a timber supply shortage, shut
down the sawmill and threatened
McCall with the loss of a $1.5 million
annual payroll, widely touted by lo-
cals as the mainstay of their city's
retail trade.
But on this July morning there is
little evidence of economic decline.
Amid the petunias and potted plants
lining the sun deck and boardwalk of
the Shore Lodge are well - heeled
guests more than willing to pay 65,
cents for a '1-nurce glass of orange
juice or $1.50 for pie a la mode.
Although the Maverick conven -'
fence store on 3rd Street has a $10
maximum on gas purchases and
smoke no longer pours from the old
mill's stacks, there is no energy or fi-
nancial crisis here. Acres of floating
logs that once covered a bay on the
lake's east side have been replaced
by man -made playthings — gas -guz-
zling houseboats with Astroturf
decks and custom -made fiberglass
motorboats with $300 stereo systems.
Stores are reporting record sales.
On some evenings, hungry customers
wait an hour or longer for tables at
some of the town's 12 restaurants.
And on weekends, McCall's half
dozen motels and three campgrounds
are 90 to 100 percent full.
"We remark about it every day,"
said the proprietor of McCall's oldest
hotel. "You don't realize there is a
gas shortage or anything else."
The summer construction industry
is in full swing, so much so that Idaho
Power and Ma Bell can't keep up
with'the number of new residents.
Even McCall's airport is having
trouble coping with the increased
summer traffic, which has boosted
the community's population of 2,300
to well over 10,000. "I'd say air traf-
fic ill the past 2 years has doubled,"
said Robert Franklin, the airport'$
general manager. "We have as many
as 100 planes tied down on weekends
. Ten years ago if we had 10 on the
field I'd say it was crowded."
As the Star -News, McCall's weekly
newspaper, reported recently, the
town's latest round of prosperity is as
noticeable as "the bright summer
sunlight shimmering off Payette
Lake.'
"I can safely say that McCall has
safely weathered the storm,"
chuckled Callender, who estimated
that Inter - Mountain Bank's McCall
branch has increased its deposits as
much as 18 percent since the mill's
closure.
Most likely Joe Johnson, assistant
manager of Idaho First National in
McCall, would agree. "Over a 2 -year
period, we've had a 36 percent in-
crease in deposits," he said. "It's a
tremendous increase, it really is."
McCall's ability to evolve so
smoothly from mill town to resort
city has left those who bemoaned the
mill's departure with a little egg on
their faces.
"I must admit I was one who
thought it would affect the econ-
omy," said John Edwards, manager
of the Shore Lodge. But Edwards,
like many McCall businessmen, un-
derestimated his city's drawing
power among southern Idaho resi-
dents who find McCall's recreational
opportunities and cooler summer
temperatures well worth the 21/2-
hour drive from Boise.
"McCall's just like a ski hill," he
conceded recently. "The more peo-
ple you get in Boise, the more people
you get on top of the mountain."
Although thankful for McCall's re-
bound, there are those who find it be-
wildering. "You just can't take $1.5
million out of a small town and not
feel it ... but nobody has been able to
figure out why McCall didn't suffer,"
said Callender.
For an answer, one might turn to
residents like Perc Shelton, a McCall
real estate agent and developer who
estimates he has sold 5 miles of
Payette lakeshore property since he
went into business nearly 35 years
ago. A businessman who understands
the human psychology of "owning a
piece of the rock," Shelton was one
of the few who didn't worry over the
mill's closure in 1977. "I told people
in 5 years you won't even know a mill
was here," he said.
"What you have here are people
coming up to buy a back lot with no
intentions to build but only to say, `I
own a lot up in McCall.' It's been a
thing Mr. Jones and Mrs. Smith al-
ways did. There's always been an
aura of owning property up here."
A look into Idaho's early history
reflects the same McCall magnet-
ism. In his 1914 History of Idaho,
Henry Fouch writes of plans being
made to "make Payette Lake not
only otte of the most beautiful but one
of the best equipped pleasure places
in the West" and inevitably "a great
inter - mountain Chautauqua center."
So, despite McCall's dependence
on the timber industry, it has never
been just a sleepy little mill town.
Since the early 1900s, the area has
served as a summer mecca for well -
to-do Idahoans determined to set
their business worries aside, escape
the heat and have a good time. Sa-
loons, brothels, casinos, fine restau-
rants and swinging dance halls — at
one time McCall had them all.
Recalled Dorothy Barley, 64,
whose politicking father Carl Brown
played a major role in the '30s devel-
oping McCall into a recreation area:
"In those days, you had to be friendly
or you were an outcast."
Traditionally, a good share of
Payette Lake's 26 -mile shoreline has
been reserved for Idaho's upper
crust. Today, its addresses resemble
a mailing list for a Who's Who from
the Boise Valley. Among the nota-
bles: the J.R. Simplots, Jonathan C.
Scotts (A &P grocery stores), Joe Al-
bertsons, James Bruces (Idaho
Power), William M. Agees (Bendix
Corp.), and other financial kingpins
like the Oppenheimers, Hansbergers,
Hendrens and Tertelings.
Like fine old china or priceless
family jewels, much of the property
has been passed on from one genera-
tion to another. When the old family
lakeshore cottage of Boise business-
woman Joan Carley was destroyed
by fire several years ago, she did
what any blue - blooded Idahoan
would do. She rebuilt, but this time a
"cabin" of more elaborate propor-
tions.
"I always thought if I could leave a
little bit of McCall to my kids that
would really be worth something,"
said Carley, whose new home sports
half a dozen bedrooms and a pano-
ramic view from one of the lake's
oldest subdivisions, Sylvan Beach.
The mill someday may be shops and condos
The Idaho Statesman 8/5/79 Page #2 or 4 Pages
A sailboat rests at its mooring at Payette Lake
The Idaho Statesman 8/5/79 Page #3 or 4 Pages
But the Carley residence is a mere
bunkhouse compared to other homes
bordering the lake's west side (jok-
ingly referred to by some as Payette
Lake's "Oyster Bay "). One resident
has added four stories to his family's
once- humble log cabin; others have
opted to build new homes with glass
walls and massive redwood decks,
using granddad's summer cabin as a
guest house for overflow guests.
But by far the most impressive
Lakeshore residence is the Simplot
complex — an Idaho version of San
Clemente's Casa Pacifica. The Sim-
plot estate consists of more than 80
rolling, forested acres and some 1,500
feet of shoreline. Amenities include a
tennis court, stables and a swimming
pool that extends more than 40 feet
from the shoreline into the lake.
McCall is a far cry from its more
worldly competitor, Sun Valley.
Rusty, tinned -roofed bungalows vie
for space next to sprawling ranch -
style dream homes. Many of the
area's most expensive residences re-
main hidden from the road by dense
forest, accessible only by unobtru-
sive dirt and gravel driveways.
"Sun Valley is a man - created re-
sort," said John Edwards, who has
lived in McCall for 20 years. "This is
natural."
Natural or mishmash, a piece of
the good life in McCall does not come
cheap. Land prices have soared in re-
cent years to the point that Perc
Shelton says they've "gone berserk."
The most noticeable increase has
been Lakeshore property, where a lot
is no longer measured by the acre
but by the foot. Ten years ago, Lake-
shore property was selling for $100 to
$200 a foot; today the same land is
going for $1,000 to $1,500.
Shelton said a three- bedroom
home with a small apartment bord-
ering 82 feet of shoreline is on the
market for $200,000. A few years ago
he appraised the same home and lot
for $65,000.
"I would say the greatest variable
I've had was an offer last year of
$100,000 for a vacant lot," Shelton
said. The property, which includes
100 feet of shoreline and is 350 feet
deep, sold in the late '40s for $2,000,
Shelton said. "Now, that's quite a
spread."
l u9� _ 3 aT if Pops
But even at these prices, lakeside
property is scarce. Approximately 41
percent of Payette Lake's shoreline
is owned by the state of Idaho. Shel-
ton estimates that more than 80 per-
cent of Valley County is federally or
state owned and another 10 percent
by timber interests like Boise Cas-
cade.
For McCall's 45 licensed real es-
tate agents, the problem is not so
much finding a ready buyer as it is
finding a seller. "You might say 6 to 7
percent is all the ground you have to
work with," said Shelton. "In McCall
. all you have to do is stick your
hand out and you're touching Uncle
and the state."
Commerical property also is at a
premium. Gordon Fouch, -a retired
Forest Service worker, said he
bought two vacant, commercially
zoned lots near McCall's airport last
November. "I paid $6,000 for one and
$7,500 for another and I can sell them
now for $18,000 apiece," he s0id.
Rarely does a week go by that a bank
representative doesn't call him on
the phone urging him to sell, Fouch
said.
John Dobroth works on an eight -unit condo in McCall
The Idaho Statesman 8/5/79 Page #4 or 4 Pages
According to Sandy Bates of
McCall's planning and zoning depart-
ment, 49 house building permits were
obtained from the city in 1977 com-
pared to 19 in 1976. In 1978, despite
forecasts of economic doom in the
area, the city issued 60 more. Al-
though construction loans are be-
coming more difficult to secure,
Bates said she has noticed no de-
crease in building permits issued this
year.
Idaho First's Joe Johnson said
McCall is attracting an influx of mid-
dle- income couples, primarily from
the Boise Valley, who want to build
second homes. "The wife works,
they have one or two children and a
combined income ranging from
$40,000 to $65,000 ... and they're
bound and determined to have a
cabin in McCall," he said.
"We're getting people who are
undergoing what you could call a life-
style change. They're nb longer in
tune with the hustle - bustle California
thing. But they find that the Boise
Valley is leaning toward that pace
and they want to get clear away
from it."
A drive through McCall's streets
and campgrounds reveals large num-
bers of mainly Idaho and California
license plates. Are Californians some
of the new land investors?
Randy Geddes, an agent for All -
American Realty, said the "Califor-
nia syndrome is not as strong as
some people make it out to be.
When condominiums from a 16-
unit lakeside complex called Eleva-
tion 5,000 went for sale last year,
Geddes said 60 percent of the buyers
were Idahoans, most from the Treas-
ure Valley. Although the complex is
still under construction, the two -
story townhouses, priced from
$100,000 to $160,000, all sold within 3
weeks, he said.
Geddes also has noticed former
Idahoans, many who were forced to
leave the state for career reasons,
are becoming prime McCall inves-
tors. "They want a piece of their
state," he said, but adding that high
,interest rates are keeping many of
the potential buyers away. "If you
don't have any money, you don't
think about it," he said. "But if
you've made some good investments
Today's tight money market gives
the impression McCall is an exclu-
sive country club for retirees or
upper- income families. Not so, ac-
cording to several McCall Realtors.
"We get all types," said real estate
agent Sheila Davis. "I've noticed
quite a few young people — people in
their 20s — who want to be out in the
country, have a chance to invest in
some land and build a home."
Said Shelton, "There's been such
an influx of young people ... that the
older folks just don't know who
everybody is anymore. I've got guys
in the plumbing and painting busi-
ness I've never met."
A year ago, John and Niki LeClair,
a couple in their mid -20s, pooled their
savings with a brother and a friend
and bought 40 wooded acres 6 miles
outside McCall. Although John, a
smokejumper turned electrician, and
Niki, a waitress, were unable to se-
cure a construction loan, they began
building their dream home with the
profits made through the sale of a
house in Sheridan, Wyo.
The LeClairs' home, an impressive
three -story structure made of pine
and birch, is three - quarters tinished.
But its construction was made possi-
ble only with the help of laboring
friends and salvaged building mate-
rials.
Windows were rescued f,om a
Junkyard and an old Ashley wood -
stove, which serves as the home's
primary heating source, was given to
John by an `old timer" who was re-
modeling his cabin on the South Fork
of the Salmon River.
Construction help was enlisted
from friends Kim and Judy Kirkland,
newlyweds who are building a home
next door. Kim, a carpenter, also
plans to finance his home without a
loan by doing most of the construc-
tion work himself and bartering his
skills for building materials.
The LeClairs and Kirklands are
typical of the growing number of
young couples who have decided to
settle here. Impressed by the area's
natural beauty and clean environ-
ment, they say they are willing to
sacrifice the conveniences of urban
living.
"I don't know what it is about
McCall," said Niki, who came here
from Glenwood Springs, Colo. "It's
the people, I guess, and it's so beauti-
ful .... but there's not much job secu-
rity at all. It's great for the rich but
us paupers ... "
The coming winter could bring
economic hardships for people like
the LeClairs and Kirklands. Both
couples could find themselves jobless
should the tourist trade end sud-
denly.
"We're like farmers. We have to
make hay when the sun shines," said
Edwards, who as a hotel keeper finds
himself walking the same economic
tightrope during the winter. "Any-
body who has a business in McCall
can do well in the summer ... but in
October and November you can
shoot a cannonball through the place
and not hit anybody."
Brundage Ski Area, McCall's ski
mountain, drew record crowds last
year as did the annual Winter Ice
Carnival. But skiing, snowmobiling
and the weekend carnival are the
only tourist attractions in town dur-
ing the long winter.
Nevertheless, this summer's tour-
ist boom is an encouraging sign that
McCall may be in for its best winter
season ever.
Perhaps vacationing Idahoans,
fearful of gas shortages in neighbor-
ing states, are on their way to redis-
covering what this little town is all
about. Said Rick Cummins, manager
of nearby Ponderosa State Park,
where several cross country races
are scheduled for the winter. "I think
the whole secret is to see if this
whole (resort) thing sustains itself."
sleep with the stars
Campgrounds
Idaho's Heartland is
reknowned for its natural
wonders, and there are plenty of
places to get close to that beau -
ty, in day -use parks maintained
by the federal'government, state
and cities.
For those interested in sleep-
ing under a towering ponderosa
pine or beside a flowing stream,
numerous public campgrounds
also are available.
State Parke
PONDEROSA STATE PARK
Ponderosa State Park, two
miles northeast of McCall, is on
a forested peninsula in Payette
Lake. This natural lake was
formed thousands of years ago
by glacial activity. Large granite
boulders can be seen
throughout the park, giving
evidence of the glacier's force.
Basaltic cliffs on the north
end of the peninsula were
created by volcanic activity
prior to the glacial era.
Geologists believe that this
peninsula extended to the west
side of the lake and was cut off
by the advancing glaciers.
Ponderosa Park has a varied
topography. Within its bounds
are arid sagebrush flats, steep
basaltic cliffs, dense woods,
grassy hillsides, meadows and
marshes.
Among other interesting
features of the park are two
marsh areas. They were lakes at
one time, but are now almost
completely evolved into wet
meadow. Lily Marsh is north of
the picnic area and Meadow
Marsh is on the east side of the
main road near the Meadow
Marsh hiking trail.
Because of its uniqueness, Li-
ly Marsh has been nominated
into the National Register of
Natural Places.
The park is abundant with
large, mature ponderosa pines,
also called yellow pine. Some of
these trees are 400 -500 years old
and reach heights of 150 feet or
more.
This concentration of large,
old trees is unusual so close to
sawmills and logging activities,
but the trees were preserved
earlier in this century so that
everyone could enjoy their
beauty.
To allow enjoyment of the
natural beauty of Ponderosa
Park, nature trails and roads
have been developed as well as
picnic areas, scenic overlooks, a
children's play area, a program
area, beaches and a boat ramp.
Camping is popular at
Ponderosa Park and the camp-
ing season traditionally opens
Memorial Day weekend.
The park has 110 campsites
with water and electricity for $8
per night and 60 sites with water
only for $6 per night. Extra
vehicles are charged $4 each.
As many as 85 campsites can
be reserved, leaving 85 on a
first -come, first - served basis.
Reservations must be received
at the park no later than 10 days
prior to arrival. A $5 reserva-
tion fee must accompany the re-
quest.
A day -use fee of $1 per day is
charged for all motorized
vehicles entering the park. An-
nual passes may be purchased
for $10 and is honored at all
Idaho state parks charging an
entrance fee.
The day -use area is a popular
swimming and barbecuing spot
for area residents as well as
visitors. The covered group pic-
nic area can be reserved for a
$10 fee.
PACKER JOHN'S CABIN
Located nine miles west of
McCall near New Meadows,
Packer John's Cabin State Park
offers unlimited camping with
vault toilets, central water,
tables and grills.
The small, historical park
covers 16.5 acres. Fee for over-
night camping is $3.
Situated in the park is a small
one -room cabin originally built
in 1862 by John Walsh, a
packer operating between
Lewiston and Boise. The cabin
was the site of early Idaho ter-
ritorial political conventions in
1863 and 1864.
NORTH BEACH
At the north end of Payette
Lake in McCall lies the 500 -acre
North Beach area, containing
the largest public sandy beach
on the lake.
There are vault toilets on the
west side of the beach but no
other facilities.
A pleasant canoe outing
begins by launching your boat
by the bridge over the North
Fork of the Payette River past
the north end of the lake and
paddling down to North Beach
for a picnic.
The trip is calm and en-
joyable but, as you near North
Beach, keep an eye out for
speeding boats.
McCall Parke
It doesn't take long for a
visitor to McCall to realize that
finding a way to get down to the
shore of Payette Lake is easier
said than done.
Much of the lake shore is
privately owned or is on state
land that is leased to private
parties.
The city of McCall, however,
maintains several city parks
along the lake that offer views
equal to those enjoyed by the
most exclusive lakeside homes.
The city also maintains a
"pocket park" located
downtown.
Mill Park: Mill Park is the
newest of the city parks. Follow
Lake Street east of the flashing
traffic signal in the center of
town and bear left at the Idaho
Department of Lands building.
The park is easy to spot
because it is next door to the
former Boise Cascade Corp.
sawmill, much of which burned
in a fire in March 1984. Look
for the large red waste - burner
teepee, which still stands as a
landmark on the lakeshore.
The park has a large expanse
of grass and a pier and walkway
on which to relax or stroll and
look out over the lake. Also
;.available are a sand volleyball
court and two horseshoe pits.
Mill Park also is reputed to be
the best place from which to
watch McCall's annual
fireworks display on the Fourth
of July.
The park also features
restrooms, which are locked at
night, and game tables.
Rotary Park: Rotary Park is
located along Payette Lake on
the west side of the lake's outlet
into the North Fork of the
[layette River across from the
Shore Lodge motel.
Many of the park's facilities
have been built and funded by
the McCall Rotary Club with
assistance from other service
clubs and civic organizations.
The park is perfect for an
afternoon picnic with the family
and features picnic tables,
playground equipment, and
several hundred feet of
beachfront. The park also has
public restrooms and drinking
water.
Art Roberts Park: Art
Roberts Park is small, but gets a
lot of use because of its location
in the heart of downtown bet-
ween May Hardware and
Krahn's Home Furnishings.
The park features a terraced
grassy slope for sitting and
watching boats pass on the lake
or observing the Fourth of July
fireworks.
A small beach stays above the
water line all summer long.
Community Park: Communi-
ty Park is a good place for
resting after a hard day of shop-
ping in McCall's downtown
shops. It also is suited for a sack
lunch in the sunshine.
The park is located at Lenora
Street along Third Street, which
also is called Idaho 55. The park
has a grassy area and benches,
but no restrooms.
Davis Beach: Davis Beach is
the most out -of- the -way place
maintained by the city, but. it
also is among the most pleasant.
To get to the beach, follow
Davis Avenue along the east
side of the lake to its intersec-
tion with Lick Creek Road.
Continue on Davis Avenue
past Lick Creek Road and turn
left at the first street, where a
"Dead End" sign is posted.
Follow that street to the beach.
The 100- yard -long beach has
no facilities, but the swimming
is excellent.
Campgrounds
McCALL
Ponderosa State Park: 890
acres two miles northeast of
McCall on Payette Lake Penin-
sula. 170 campsites with
water and electricity. Fishing,
boat launch, day -use area,
group picnic shelter, am-
pitheater.
The park features water ski-
ing, cross country skiing in the
winter, visitor's center, art
displays, nature trails, swimm-
ing, campfire programs,
shower, playground.
Fees are $8 per night for sites
with hook -ups and $6 per night
for 60 sites furnishing water on-
ly. Each extra vehicle is charged
an additional $4.
As many as 85 campsites can
be reserved on a first -come,
first- served basis. Reservations
must be received at the park no
later than 10 days prior to ar-
rival. A $5 reservation fee must
accompany the request.
North Beach: Camp along
the shore of Payette Lake.
Outhouse on west side. Fishing,
water skiing. No fee.
Grouse: Six campsites next to
Goose Lake; 10 miles north of
McCall on Brundage Mountain
Road. Take Idaho 55 west to ski
area turnoff and turn right.
Keep left. Fishing, boating and
camping. $3 overnight fee.
Hazard Lake: Five miles nor-
thwest on Idaho 55, then 22
miles north on Brundage Moun-
tain Road. Boating and fishing.
Four acres with 12 units. $3
overnight fee.
Lake Fork Campground:
About eight miles from McCall
past Little Payette Lake on Lick
Creek Road; nine units; fishing.
$3 overnight fee.
Ponderosa: 31 miles nor-
theast on Lick Creek Road at
Secesh River; 14 units; fishing.
$3 overnight fee.
Upper Payette Lake; Along
the shores of the lake; about 14
miles north of McCall on War-
1
ti's c c --)s .f c
ren Wagon Road; 9 units;
boating, fishing. $3 overnight
fee.
NEW MEADOWS
Last Chance Campground:
Located between McCall and
New Meadows,. two miles off
Idaho 55; 31 units; no water. $3
overnight fee.
Cold Spring Campground:
Located on Lost Valley Reser-
voir, eight miles southwest of
New Meadows on U.S. 95, then
follow forest roads; 31 units;
boating, fishing and berry pick-
ing. $3 fee.
Slaughter Gulch Camp-
ground: Located on north end
of Lost Valley Reservoir; 18
units primitive facilities;
boating and fishing; no water.
Free.
Packer John's Cabin State
Park: Three miles southeast of
New Meadows on Idaho 55; 16
spaces on 10 acres; fishing. $3
per night.
IGr� Spar - �'lP� -mss
McCall rec to sponsor swim le-
ssons
Summer sun has warmed
Payette Lake to an inviting
temperature, perfect for taking
the kids down to the lake for
swimming lessons from the Mc-
Call Recreation Program.
Recreation Director Hugh
Cooke said the city of McCall
will sponsor two weeks of lessons
at the Art Roberts Park swimm-
ing area, beginning Aug. 5.
Beginning and intermediate
lessons will be offered to youths
ages 7 to 13 years. Cbst for the
lessons is $10 for a series of 10,
one -half hour lessons.
Class size will from eight to 12
youths per class, Cooke said.
The lessons will be held Mon-
day through Friday at the park
site in downtown McCall, with
daily times from 11 a.m. depen-
ding upon swimming ability. The
last class of the day will be held at
4:15 p.m., Cooke said.
A mandatory registration and
class placement is set for Tuesday
and Wednesday, July 30 -31,
from noon to 3 pm. at the park.
Students should come prepared
to get wet and will be evaluated
on their swimming ability and
placed in the appropriate class.
Cooke said it should take about
15 minutes to evaluate the
students.
Anyone wishing to register ear-
ly or needing more information
can contact the McCall Recrea-
tion Program at 634 -7280. -
McCall gazebo plan hits snag
BY RANDALL BROOKS
The Star -News
News that a deed donating land
for Art Roberts Park prohibits
any permanent buildings has put
a kink in plans for a gazebo at
Art Roberts Park.
The snag was noted to the Mc-
Call City Council Thursday dur-
ing a presentation on the gazebo
by a McCall citizens group.
Council member Gary
VanKomen called for the council
to hold any action on the gazebo
project until April 23 after hear-
ing a report on deed problems
from McCall City Administrator
Bud Schmidt and parking con-
cerns from other council
members.
All four council members said
they support the volunteer pro-
ject, which is aimed at improving
public facilities in McCall, but
said they were worried a gazebo
in the busy downtown location
might create traffic congestion
and parking problems on Lake
Street.
Schmidt told council members
that a warranty deed for the park
land donated by the former
Wescott Oil Corporation in 1959
said the land was to be used for a
public park.
The deed said that no perma-
nent buildings were to be built on
the land or the deed would be
forfeited.
"I think it's important to give
this some serious consideration,"
Schmidt told the council.
Holden said the Wescott Oil
Company had goneout of
business in 1968 and that efforts
to find who was responsible for
the deed has been unsuccessful.
Council members suggested
that the group should work to
contact whoever was responsible
for the company's assets and get
permission for the structure.
Proponents of the gazebo pro-
ject came armed with petitions
and letters of support from
various civic groups. But council
members also received a letter
from Dan Krahn, owner of
"My view is, our most signficant asset
is our beautiful lake."
— Mayor Clyde Archer
Krahn's Home Furnishings,
against the location.
Council member Marion
Johnson also reported she had
received at least six phone calls
from citizens asking that its loca-
tion be moved.
VanKomen and Johnson sug-
gested that representatives of the
gazebo project meet with
Schmidt to look at alternative
locations for the structure.
That meeting took place Fri-
day, with Schmidt reporting that
several alternatives to its location
and design were discussed. He
said the group looked at an alter-
nate site on city land located next
to the Cutty Sark Restaurant,
and also talked of a new con-
figuration for the gazebo
building, possibly as a hexagon
or octagon, if it were to be built
at Art Roberts Park.
Schmdit said the change would
allow the structure to be placed
behind a tree in the park, lessen-
ing its effect on the lake view.
Current plans show the gazebo
as a 12- foot -by -30 -foot rectan-
gular building which would be
centered on the streetside level of
the 110- foot -by- 150 -foot park.
Mayor Clyde Archer worried
that the building might block the
view of Payette Lake for visitors.
"My view is, our most signifi-
cant asset is our beautiful lake,"
he said. "How significant is the
blockage ?"
Linda Holden, spokeman for
the gazebo group, said she felt
the building would actually be
less obtrusive than the current
practice of parking cars in front
of the park. Under the group's
plans, several parking spaces on
Lake Street would be eliminated.
McCall Area Chamber of
Commerce President Bonnie
Allen and Executive Director
Jennifa Lorenzi both spoke in
support of the project.
"We have a lot of ugliness in
our downtown," Allen said.
Lorenzi said she felt the city
needed a focal point downtown
and that the gazebo would be a
helpful asset.
City Administrator Bud Schmidt
said removing two to three park-
ing places bordering Art Roberts
would be a concern, but should
not be a major issue in deciding
where the gazebo should be plac-
ed.
He discussed alternative sites
for the gazebo such as city land
next to the Cutty Sark Restaurant
and near the city's water station,
but Holden said she felt they were
too far out of town.
Council member Richard
Moltke cast the lone vote against
VanKomen's suggestion of
building the new park. Moltke
thought the gazebo might work in
Art Roberts Park if it were
redesigned and placed in a less
obtrusive location.
Council member Bob McCar-
ty, who immediately voted with
VanKomen on the issue, said pro-
tecting the lakeview was his main
concern. "I feel Art Roberts
Park should be free and clear of
obstructions," McCarty said.
Council member Marion
Johnson waited for several
minutes before casting the
deciding vote against the Art
Roberts site, giving no reason to
the unsuccessful petitioners.
Holden and her group left the
room in anger and continued a
discussion loudly outside the
council chambers, charging the
council with ignoring public sup-
port they had gathered and using
the gazebo group's work to pro-
mote its own ideas.
Schmidt said Friday the city
staff would begin working on the
new park plan this week and
hoped the gazebo committee
would reconsider its decision to
withdraw its support.
q /S�
Gazebo backers withdraw offer
after McCall suggests marina location,
BY RANDALL BROOKS
The Star -News
Two McCall area couples who
had volunteered to raise funds
and build a public gazebo have
backed off in anger after the Mc-
Call City Council refused to
allow it to be built in Art Roberts
Park downtown.
Citing previous planning ef-
forts in another direction, council
members on Thursday voted 3 -1
in favor of a plan to pool the
city's resources to instead build a
small park where members felt
the gazebo would be more ap-
propriate.
The new park location includes
400 feet of city - controlled
lakefront located south of the ci-
ty boat docks at the Sports
Marina.
Under plans discussed in the
past year by citizens committees
studying McCall's park, recrea-
tion and transportation needs,
the park would eventually tie into
a lakefront boardwalk from
downtown to Mill Park.
The marina park idea is similar
to one touted last year by Rick
Fereday, a Valley County Water-
ways commissioner and owner of
May Marina. Fereday has unsuc-
cessfully tried to get grant fun-
ding for such a project.
Rough plans discussed at
Thursday's meeting call for con-
struction this summer of about 30
parking spaces, a landscaped
grass area with the gazebo as a
focal point, and restoration of
the beach. Current long -term
boat trailer parking at the site
would be eliminated.
The motion by council member
Gary VanKomen called for the ci-
ty to authorize the gazebo at the
alternate site, with the city staff
mobilizing this summer to fund
and construct the park facility.
Linda Holden, speaking for a
committee headed by her hus-
band, Douglas, and Mike and
Kathy Barton, objected and
withdrew the offer to build the
gazebo.
"I think we just had an im-
promptu decision and we
withdraw our proposal," she
said.
Holden had argued their idea
had been to construct the gazebo
as a focal point for Art Roberts
Park to help the downtown sec-
tion of McCall.
"In all seriousness, we're try-
ing to get a diverse age group in
the park," she said.
In her second presentation this
month to the council on the plan,
Holden offered city council
members additional "en-
dorsements of the idea from
various McCall civic groups plus
a petition she said carried 150
names of supporters.
Shirley Potter, a McCall resi-
dent, questioned whether all
signers of the petition actually
agreed with the committee's re-
quirement of Art Roberts Park
site for the gazebo. Potter was
the first to suggest that the
marina site near the Huckleberry
Corners commercial area might
be a better long -term investment.
Dan Krahn, a downtown
businessman who had opposed
the Art Roberts Park location
because of parking considera-
tions, argued that the downtown
park next to his furniture store is
already well used.
"One thing to remember is that
Art Roberts Park is used as it is
now," Krahn said. "My concern
is the parking."
In his report. to the council,
City Administrator Bud Schmidt
said removing two to three park-
ing places bordering Art Roberts
would be a concern, but should
not be a major issue in deciding
where the gazebo should be plac-
ed.
He discussed alternative sites
for the gazebo such as city land
next to the Cutty Sark Restaurant
and near the city's water station,
but Holden said she felt they were
too far out of town.
Council member Richard
Moltke cast the lone vote against
VanKomen's suggestion of
building the new park. Moltke
thought the gazebo might work in
Art Roberts Park if it were
redesigned and placed in a less
obtrusive location.
Council member Bob McCar-
ty, who immediately voted with
VanKomen on the issue, said pro-
tecting the lakeview was his main
concern. "I feel Art Roberts
Park should be free and clear of
obstructions," McCarty said.
Council member Marion
Johnson waited for several
minutes before casting the
deciding vote against the Art
Roberts site, giving no reason to
the unsuccessful petitioners.
Holden and her group left the
room in anger and continued a
discussion loudly outside the
council chambers, charging the
council with ignoring public sup-
port they had gathered and using
the gazebo group's work to pro-
mote its own ideas.
Schmidt said FridaN the city
staff would begin working on the
new park plan this week and
hoped the gazebo committee
would reconsider its decision to
withdraw its support.
'� i
- 5i4 r
1
McCall sticks by original park plan
Y TOMI GROTE bond passed by voters last June to
«
he Star -News When I voted for the park, finance the park.
The McCall City Council voted
nanimously last Thursday night tol expected park. "
Many in the crowd were adamant
that parking be kept to a minimum
jest a downtown merchant group's
Lance Eckhardt in the park. "When I voted for the'
ffort to expand parking in the pro -
-
park, I expected park," said Lance
posed Payette Lake waterfront park
Eckhardt, who owns a travel agency
n downtown McCall. Feb. 22, when a group calling itself
McCall architect Andy Laidlaw, a downtown.
The council voted to stick with the Downtown Merchants Coalition
member of the park design team, Crystal Visions owner and down -
he parking scheme for the park made a plea to expand the number of
presented eight alternatives to the town businessman Humphrey
riginally recommended by the parking spaces from the proposed 27
council and the crowd, many of Kellogg called the council's expendi-
AcCall Parks and Recreation to a larger number.
whom had to be content to listen ture of funds to draw alternative
'ommittee and the McCall The merchants were concerned
from the hallway because they plans for expanded parking
,
'lanning and Zoning Commissio, that inadequate parking in the park
�fter hearing two hours of impa,, would worsen the already spare park-
couldn't squeeze into the council ludicrous. The park is an aes-
statement," Kellogg
chambers. Chet c, "It's b
ioned testimony from a crowd c ing conditions downtown, when vis-
bout 60 citizens. itors using the park spilled into the
At 60 parking places, only 3/4- the first time si I
acre (of the more than two acres) is been here that we've voted to do
About 15 people spoke in oppo- downtown parking area. The council
park," Laidlaw said. The five op- something beautiful, and special in-
ition to the merchants' appeal in an then instructed the park designer to
tions ranged from 20 parking places terest creeps in."
The aesthetics of the park were
mpromptu public hearing, the see- sketch new plans to see how the
end in a row on the subject. The park would be affected by 40, 50 and
in the park's interior to 50 and car-
ried price tags from $31,730 to heavy on the minds of parking op-
"(More
irst airing on the subject occurred at 60 parking spaces to accommodate
$56,080. The costs for the parking ponents. parking) is a viola -
he council's last regular meeting on park users.
would come out of the $1.1 million
S-fo t,� l/Ue�S
OC&0 e--� qj /01 90
THE STAR NEWS - THURSDAY OCTOBER 4, 1990
r
P.O.
2nd St.
Hwy.5
NA
9�
Z
m
cn
I
McCall
..: dsold.to � land
Land sold to......� buys City by Gentry
:.
for park
1`11111 —
Mtn. Monkey
Business
Map shows land McCall bought for park.
Gentry
(Continued from Page A -1)
At the end of 1989, Gentry and
the city negotiated toward a perma-
nent easement that would give the
city perpetual rights to the land as
long as it was used as a park. How-
ever, Gentry withdrew her offer just
before negotiations were completed
on the advice of her accountant.
Earlier this year, she offered to
allow the city to continue to use the
land under a license agreement, but
city council members balked at the
30 -day cancellation clause. Council
members then ordered its staff to
negotiate a purchase of the site.
Council members believe the
city should own the land since own-
ership would better qualify the city
for grants to help build the lakefront
park, city council President Bob
McCarty said.
The decision to buy the Gentry
land also was made easier following
a tentative deal made earlier this year
with San Diego developer Douglas
Manchester, who owns the site now
occupied by Century 21 - Chisholm
Realty. That site also is part of the
____1
Proposed riverfront park.
Manchester agreed to trade the
Century 21 parcel for a portion of
Mill Park that would add lake
frontage for Manchester's proposed
Payette Lake Lodge. Approval of
the trade is still being considered by
state and federal park officials.
The trade is expected to save the
city tens of thousands of dollars that
it otherwise would have spent from
the bond fund to buy the Century 21
property.
The funds saved could then be
dedicated toward buying the Gentry
land. Purchase of the Gentry parcel
was not anticipated when the bond
issue was put before voters.
If the land trade with Manchester
is approved, the city will then be
the sole owner of a long stretch of
lakefront land between the McCall
Mall and the Payette Lake Lodge
site.
The main private parcel within
the park, previously owned by the
Brown family of McCall, was pur-
chased earlier by the city for
$320,000.
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
The city of McCall acquired an
important link to its holdings along
the shore of Payette Lake last Friday
when the McCall City Council
from
agreed to buy a strip of
Nancy Gentry.
Gentry, of McCall and La Jolla,
Calif., owns the 34- foot -by -100
foot parcel that sits across East Lake
Street from Mountain Monkey
Business, which Gentry also owns.
The land is part of a waterfront
park scheduled to be built next year
using funds from a $1.1 million
bond issued passed by McCall vot-
ers in 1989.
In a special meeting Friday, the
city council accepted Gentry's offer
to sell the land to the city for
$119,000. Upon closing of the deal,
Gentry has agreed to donate $29,000
to the city's park development fund,
making the net purchase price
$90,000.
Up until this year, the city has
been using the land as a park
through a temporary easement
granted by Gentry. Sod was planted
on the land and picnic tables were
installed.
(See" Gentry," Back Page)
McCall
buys land
for park
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
The city of McCall acquired an
important link to its holdings along
the shore of Payette Lake last Friday
when the McCall City Council
agreed to buy a strip of land from
Nancy Gentry.
Gentry, of McCall and La Jolla,
Calif., owns the 34- foot -by -100
foot parcel that sits across East Lake
Street from Mountain Monkey
Business, which Gentry also owns.
The land is part of a waterfront
park scheduled to be built next year
using funds from a $1.1 million
bond issued passed by McCall vot-
ers in 1989.
In a special meeting Friday, the
city council accepted Gentry's offer
to sell the land to the city for
$119,000. Upon closing of the deal,
Gentry has agreed to donate $29,000
to the city's park development fund,
making the net purchase price
$90,000.
Up until this year, the city has
been using the land as a park
through a temporary easement
granted by Gentry. Sod was planted
on the land and picnic tables were
installed.
�co
P.O. I
Hwy.5 y�
NA
F
�5-51t? lYe ws
Land sold to
City by Gentry
z
Z R
M Mtn. Monkey
N Business
--1
Map shows land McCall bought for park.
At the end of 1989, Gentry and
the city negotiated toward a perma-
nent easement that would give the
city perpetual rights to the land as
long as it was used as a park. How-
ever, Gentry withdrew her offer just
before negotiations were completed
on the advice of her accountant.
Earlier this year, she offered to
allow the city to continue to use the
land under a license agreement, but
city council members balked at the
30 -day cancellation clause. Council
members then ordered its staff to
negotiate a purchase of the site.
Council members believe the
city should own the land since own-
ership would better qualify the city
for grants to help build the lakefront
park, city council President Bob
McCarty said.
The decision to buy the Gentry
land also was made easier following
a tentative deal made earlier this year
with San Diego developer Douglas
Manchester, who owns the site now
occupied by Century 21 - Chisholm
Realty. That site also is part of the
proposed riverfront park.
Manchester agreed to trade the
Century 21 parcel for a portion of
Mill Park that would add lake
frontage for Manchester's proposed
Payette Lake Lodge. Approval of
the trade is still being considered by
state and federal park officials.
The trade is expected to save the
city tens of thousands of dollars that
it otherwise would have spent from
the bond fund to buy the Century 21
property.
The funds saved could then be
dedicated toward buying the Gentry
land. Purchase of the Gentry parcel
was not anticipated when the bond
issue was put before voters.
If the land trade with Manchester
is approved, the city will then be
the sole owner of a long stretch of
lakefront land between the McCall
Mall and the Payette Lake Lodge
site.
The main private parcel within
the park, previously owned by the
Brown family of McCall, was pur-
chased earlier by the city for
$320,000.
/V4 �qp
Mc
Call park faces
e
r delay ano th _
McCall" long -awaited lakefront in time to start construction next
Park on Payette Lake has received month, but Belts said he was told
another setback with the word that b Corps officials in Walla Walla,
federal bureaucracy will delay con- Wash., that they have a backlog of
struction. permits to process. Clearing that
McCall City Council members acklog likely will take another two
were told last Thursday that con- months, Belts was told.
struction on the central part of the Council members told City Ad-
park likely will be delayed until ministrator Bud Schmidt to contact
after summer. the city's federal representatives to
ask them to intervene with thz
Corps. Meanwhile, the council
ordered bids to be let to build the re-
stroom for the park, which would
not sit on the wetlands area.
Don Belts, the McCall designer
who drew the plans for the park,
told council members that the delay
is due to hold -ups by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers in giving
approval for construction on the
park lands considered to be wetlands.
The Bush Administration's poli-
cies dictate that there be "no net
loss" of wetlands nationwide, mean-
ing that any wetlands proposed to be
filled must be replaced elsewhere,
Belts said.
The city has proposed replacin;
the wetlands in the lakefront par]
with wetlands at the old city landfil
along the North Fork of the Payett(
River across from the McCall
Smokejumper Base. The landfill
wetlands would be fenced to protect
it from abuse, under the city's pro-
posal.
The city had hoped to obtain a
permit from the Corps of Engineers
The snag is the latest delay to
plague the lakefront park, which is
being financed with a $1.1 million
bond issue passed by voters in
1989.
The city has been waiting for the
past 18 months for approval from
the Idaho Department of Parks and
Recreation and the National Park
Service to trade a part of Mill Park
with a piece of the lakefront park
now owned by San Diego developer
Douglas Manchester.
Without approval of the trade,
the city cannot move the former
Century 21 building now on the site
or build the parking lot that is
planned for the area.
The city has spent $410,000
from the bond issue so far on the
lakefront park to buy the land from
its former private owners, and
$50,000 has been spent on design
and engineering.
About $200,000 is budgeted to
build the first phase of the park,
which will include the restrooms,
parking, the beach area and landscap-
ing. An entry plaza and other fea-
tures are proposed to be built later.
6_ ,O -19 1
Sfdi,^ /Vew'ti Aid r ",14?q3
McCall rec continues fun camps
The McCall Recreation Program
is continuing its series of fun camps
for youths age nine to 12. Children
must have a bicycle and helmet to
attend the camp.
Weekly sessions start Monday and
on Aug. 30, and run from 1 p.m. to 5
p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Camps will be limited to 20 children,
and cost of the camp is $30 per week.
Each day, children will meet at
Fairway Park at 1 p.m. where activi-
ties will begin. They may be picked
up at the McCall - Donnelly school
tennis - basketball court area at 5 p.m.
During the week, participants will
be supervised by Recreation Program
staff. Activities will include arts and
crafts, field sports such as kickball,
tag, softball, and soccer.
Bicycle rides, library visits and
trips to Legacy Park and Davis Beach
are planned. Organized beach activi-
ties and swim times utilizing the buddy
system will be supervised by a certi-
fied Red Cross instructor.
On rainy days, activities will be
held at the McCall- Donnelly High
School gym, M -D Elementary School
multipurpose room or the McCall
Public Library.
Sign -ups will be taken at the front
desk of McCall City Hall and will be
limited to the first 20 children signing
up for each week.
For information, call 634 -3006.
he City of McCall will
provide park and
recreation amenities
that contribute to the health
and well being of its citizens by
inviting them to adopt an
active lifestyle and which also
attract visitors to the city.
— ML%Ion Statement, McCall Parks and Recreation Department
r McCall Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Tonii Gi -ofe, chair • Alevubers: IX -nnis Coyle -, Kalhp Killen, jim Wtive, Gary 1'ax K(Amen
> Require an annual, written evaluation of park maintenance
programs from the city staff to be due to the committee in
April of each year (Objective IV, strategy 1)
> Develop an Adopt -a -Park and Adopt -a- Garden program to
Tomi Grote, chair ........ 634 -8542
The following are actions that are new to ibis mnion of the
Dennis Coyle,
McCall Parks and Recreation Master Plan wbicb the committee
vice chair ...634 -2164
considers to be the most t4sible recommendations. They are
Kathy Killen .................634 -7348
extracted here for the mader's convenience, but they shouldn't
1994-MASTER PLAN- 1 9991
replace a tborougb reading of the entire document.
0�jecfives
)I- Require an annual inspection of the city's parks by the
parks and recreation advisory committee to determine the
'k " '`
following:
`�
•:::
• deficiencies in current sites (Objective I strategy 5)
l gY
�.�rategies
• deficiencies of safety features (Objective IV, strategy 3)
• deficiencies in general park maintenance to be noted
SUMMARY OF MAJOR
in a staff drafted annual evaluations of park
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
maintenace programs (Objective IV, strategy 1)
> Require an annual, written evaluation of park maintenance
programs from the city staff to be due to the committee in
April of each year (Objective IV, strategy 1)
> Develop an Adopt -a -Park and Adopt -a- Garden program to
Tomi Grote, chair ........ 634 -8542
encourage more organizations and individuals to donate
Dennis Coyle,
their carpentry or gardening skills under the city's supervi-
vice chair ...634 -2164
sion. (Objective IV, strategy 2)
Kathy Killen .................634 -7348
Jim Ware ...................... 634 -2209
> Appoint a subcommittee of citizen users of the recreation
Gary Van Komen ........634 -7446
programs to evaluate the recreational program package
annually and comment to the committe in June of each
Address correspondence to:
year. (Objective VII, strategy 2)
Parks and Recreation Dept.
P.O. Box 1065, McCall, Idaho
> Appoint a subcommittee to recommend alternative and
expanded funding sources for park and recreation devel-
opment and maintenance (Objective X, strategy 1)
> Establish a fee structure throughout the parks and recre-
ation system that offers discounts to city residents and
other significant contributors (Objective X, strategy 2)
April, 1994
Page 2 n=18n.oa Productkm ottt& aoannew aooewa
by nw vhwkTunh cmpek nom. mcaa Unho
McCall Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Tmid Grole, choir - Members: /h^►►nis G►►•le, K► IPY KiNr►►, fin► Ware, Gmy Vim Komen
OBJECTIVE L• Develop a variety of community park and
recreation sites that guarantee a high quality of life
consistent with the wishes of the citizens of the City of
McCall.
Strategies
Obeectives 1. Provide high quality public tennis courts, playfields and
.,� tra il networks.
a: 2. Expand offerings and facilities in existing park and recre-
ation sites. Areas that need attention include expanded park-
ing, P
"° `' • equipment storage, signing, access, playground swc-
Stra�egies tures, indoor recreation opportunities and restrooms.
CONCERNING PARK 3. Prioritize the future development of public park sites. Parks
DEVELOPMENT AND should serve the broadest cross- section of citizen interests
MAINTENANCE possible and serve the needs of significant segments of the
population.
4. Commit to future construction that is of commercial stan-
dard Wherever aesthetic considerations are not an overriding
factor, park designs should favor low maintenance features
and vandal resistant equipment.
5. Annually assess all current sites and determine the follow-
ing:
a. project costs and personnel required to upgrade
these sites to a more functional level. Priority should
be given to improving existing sites before develop ing
new ones.
b. existing park /recreation services, facilities and
operational procedures. Adjustments should be made
based on changing needs of the community.
6. Encourage the adoption of ordinances that ensure adequate
parks, open spaces and bikeways be provided in newly
developed areas in the city of McCall to meet the recreational
needs of increased populations.
7. Recognize that recreational services or sites often stimulate
the local economy enough to help offset operating/adminis-
tration costs.
8. Support the preservation of natural drainages, wildlife
habitat and unique areas within the city when prudent and
encourage developers to preserve natural areas rather than
relandscaping them, especially in the case of side hills, prop-
erty borders and irregular land parcels, which are easy to
April, 1994 leave natural.
Page 3 This section continued next page
McCall Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Tontl Grole, cbttir - Mentbevs: Ih•►t►tis CoYle, KedbY Killen, jim flirt•, Gin_)• Vim Ko►nr►t
OBJECTIVE LL Develop, maintain, improve and expand
accesses and views to guarantee public access to Pay ette
Lake, Payette River's North Fork and natural assets
within the City of McCall.
Strategies
1. Improve existing facilities on Payette Lake to include:
a. Better access from both land and water
b. Adequate parking
c. Safety for users
d. Site amenities including restrooms, tables, benches,
informational signs, landscaping.
2. Encourage the establishment of common rules with other
governing agencies to foster a unified approach to waterway
development.
3. Provide Payette Lake facilities with designated areas for
boaters and swimmers to better balance use and safety.
a. Ski docks
b. Signing
c. Fishing access areas
d. Moorage /short term storage
e. Public boat launch sites
f. Buoyed swimming areas
4. Develop facilities for better use of Payette River's North
Fork
a. Pathways
b. View Points
c. Fishing access areas
5. Encourage float boating access to Payette River with a put -
in near the outlet and take -out down river. Include informa-
tional signing with safety recommendations.
6. Evaluate the impacts of managing N.F. Payette River flows
to allow recreational floaters to use the river for an extended
season and when prudent, encourage such management.
7. Improve and protect existing park lands along N. F. Pay
ette Lake and N.F. Payette River and acquire additional public
lands on all McCall's waterways by donation, trade, purchase,
property or access rights.
Ibis section continued next page
April, 1994
Page 4
' McCall Dept. of Parks and Rccreation
"yam Tuttti Grule, ebuir • Members: rs: De nnis Cet►•li-, Kalb ► Kille•u. Jiut Mitre, Gmy i im Km mw
OBJECTIVE M. Encourage use of park and recreation
facilities by providing a trail network which Minks
McCall's park and recreation facilities.
Strategies
1. A trail system should serve in getting from point- to-point,
park - to-park, for transportation within the city, and for ingress
to and egress from the city. The system should be a useful
link between facilities: private, public and academic. It should
link neighborhoods with the commercial core of the city.
2. The design of the trail system should incorporate the use
conflict strategies in Objective DC
3. Waterfront shoreline and views should be incorporated,
wherever available, into the trail system
4. Vest pocket parks and natural areas should be incorporated
along the trail system.
5. Develop minimum standard (Class 3) bikeways to link
areas wherever construction of a 10 foot wide trail is not
practical.
OBJECTIVE N: Provide safe, accessible, well maintained
and efficiently administered park and recreation
facilities.
Strategies
1. Improve the monitoring of park maintenance by annually
requiring the city staff to prepare a written evaluation of park
maintenance programs. The plan should include a detail of
tasks, standards, schedules and responsibilities to address
deficiencies. The report will be submitted to the committee in
April of each year so that the committee can consider the
information in it's budget requests relative to park mainte-
nance.
2. Develop an Adopt -a -Park and Adopt -a -Garden program to
encourage more organizations and individuals to donate their
carpentry or gardening skills under the city's supervision.
3. Annually analyze the safety and access features of current
park designs and make recommendations to city council on
prudent improvements. Encourage prompt corrections to
those deficiencies.
4. Comply with the provisions of the Americans with Disabili-
ties Act and require that the provisions of the act be incorpo-
rated into any new park design.
5. Be reasonably assured that adequate future funding for
April, 1994 maintenance will exist prior to expanding park and recreation
Page 5 sites.
Ibis section continued next page
McCall Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Pont/ Grob, cbalr • Members:IAwwls Coyk% Fn/hy Killenjim Wiirr, Gtory Vim Konten
6. Require that new facilities be visually appealing, but con-
structed for low - maintenance and of vandal resistant materials.
7. Require private and civic organizations to seek city govern-
ment input and assistance prior to petitioning the parks &
recreation advisory committee to donate or build public recre-
ation facilities.
8. Require that projects slated for donation:
a. Be feasible and desirable to the city.
b. Be completed in accordance with a pre - agreed time
table.
c. Be constructed of commercial/industrial grade mate-
rials.
d. Be completely operable before acceptance by the
city.
9. Establish a system to encourage and evaluate maintenance
suggestions by city employees and citizens.
OBJECTIVE V: Minimize use conflicts in the city's parks.
Strategies
1. Design parks that
a. segregate incompatible recreational uses.
b. are sensitive to the existing uses of adjacent land.
c. minimize conflicts in modes of transportation, such
as bicycles and pedestrians
2. Where conflicting uses must occur together, minimize the
impact of the conflict through education, signing, scheduling
of time and site management.
3. Establish and enforce city ordinances that control conflict
ing uses of recreational sites and facilities.
4. Establish and manage some sites that serve a sole purpose
or use, when no other solution will work as well.
OBJECTIVE VL• Develop a partnership with private, local,
state & federal recreation providers in order to avoid
duplication of services.
Strategies
1. When invited, designate representatives of the park and
recreation advisory committee to serve in organizations dedi-
cated to recreational development in the greater McCall recre-
ation area and report the activities of these organiza lions
regularly to the committee.
2. Encourage any organizations involved in recreational devel-
April, 1994 opment in the greater McCall area to seek the input of the
Page 6 parks and recreation advisory committee and vice - versa.
McCall Dept. of Parks and Recreation
7urrrl Grub, cbnir' • �1Ir adn r:c: lhvnrts (r►�li•, l�rrlb� J�1 /lrrr, flnr tis "nrr, Grn_� l inr A "rinn rr
OBJECTIVE VII: Promote, develop and implement year
round community recreation programs.
Strategies
1. Develop a package of recreational programs that appeals to
0 j eetives
all age groups and levels of ability.
,� ,..
2. Continually stimulate interest in lifetimes its and recre-
Y Po
ational activities by appointing a subcommittee of citizen
users of the recreation programs to evaluate the recreational
program package annually and comment to the committee in
•
�t rat �°
June of each year on the following:
e ies
a. Elimination of or improvements to existing programs
CONCERNING RECREATION
based on their popularity.
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND
b. Evaluate the volunteer coaching program and rec-
MAINTENANCE
ommend improvements.
c. Evaluate the appeal of the recreation program pack-
age relative to various age groups and levels of ability.
d. Keep the recreation program package dynamic by
analyzing changing recreational trends. Recommend
new programs that the department can afford to spon-
sor (by eliminating the expense of a less popular
program, by attracting new fees, etc.).
OBJECTIVE VIII: Sponsor and administer recreation
programs that use role models to encourage respon
slble behavior by youths.
Strategies
1. Encourage funding to attract educated and experienced
leaders.
2. Comply with the Drug -Free Workplace Act.
3. Support facilities and programs that offer youth controlled
opportunities to gather and participate in programs that are
healthful and encourage social, mental and skill development.
' McCall Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Tu►ur Grote, their - Members: Dennis Co1•lr, Kallg Dille►►, Jim i[i►rr. Gtirj 1"(101 Kome►►
ectives
gies
CONCERNING FEES AND
FUNDING
April, 1994
Page a
OBJECTIVE IX: Recognize that parks and recreation
programs, facilities and services are valuabk to the
citzens of McCall and that profitabillty is only one
consideration in evaluating those programs, facilities
and services.
Strategies
1. Fees charged for special services, supervision, set -up or
privileges should be determined in consideration of the fol-
lowing:
a. market value of service or privilege
b. restrictions such requests place on the public's use
of park facilities
c. nature of the use: profit, non - profit, personal, etc.
d. value of the use to the quality of life of the citizens
of McCall
2. Fees for youth programs or educational sessions should be
kept to a reasonable minimum.
OBJECTIVE X: Recognize that there is a serious disparity
in who pays for parks and recreation services in McCall
and who uses parks and recreation services in McCall.
Attempt to find a way to balance the burden.
Strategies:
1. Create a subcommittee chaired by a member of the park
board to recommend alternative funding sources: concessions,
grants, gifts, special elections, fund raising efforts, etc. This
committee would also explore special taxing districts, annex-
ation of properties to city limits, etc. to spread the funding
burden of basic park infrastructure expenses over more of the
population of the park system's users.
2. Establish a fee structure throughout the park and recce
ation system that eases this imbalance by offering discounts to
city residents and to other significant contributors, etc. as
approved by the advisory committee.
3. Examine land dedication ordinances or other techniques
for site acquisition and development.
' McCall Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Toped Groh•, Cbnlr - Members: Dennis Coyk-, Krrlb) Killen, firer Wtiv •, Gmy 1 ien Bonin
i
ISM
Park FAI�Vqy
� I
Actions
rtes
ACTIONS TARGETED FOR
COMPLETION DURING THE
TERM OF THIS MASTER PLAN
Riverfrons;
5ke
rays:.
a,W.r 21
April, 1994
Page 9
Fairway Park
1. Develop the park as a community park and playfield to
serve the growth on the east side of McCall. The playfields
will serve the city's youth recreation programs and take any
spillover from the playfields to be built at the riverfront park
site.
2. Build restrooms
3. Install more pleasing landscaping that includes shade trees,
a natural barrier between the park and Ameri Gas, and incor-
porates the addition of the bike path to the site.
Golf Course Clubhouse
1. Sell site, use funds to match bike path grant and use any
remaining balance to cure current priority maintenance short-
comings.
Riverfront Site
1. Commission a park design to look at the following uses:
a. playfields design for multi-use: baseball, softball,
soccer
b. "Noise" recreation area
c. RV park
d. open amphetheater
e. Iarge events such as crafts fairs, outdoor expositions,
concerts, etc.
f. soft winter recreation such as sledding, etc.
g. sport access to river: fishing, rafting, etc.
Design to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act.
3. Insist on competent, professional planning. A develop-
ment of this type along the river will bring down heavy
environmental concerns, not the least of which is the heavy
use of fertilizer on the softball fields and the presence of
wetlands on and near the site.
4. Comply with mitigation requirements on Phase I of Legacy
Park by placing required fencing of wetlands.
Bike Paths
1. Complete aquisition of railroad right of way behind City
Hall (Kalman)
Ibis section continued next page
McCall Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Tomi Grote, cbulr • Members: lhvt►tls Ogle, Kalb), Killenjim Mitre, Gtt► y Vim Ko►ttwt
soot
An R0
Roberta
Park _
2. Develop or have in progress all four sections currently
planned:
a. Miles Standish to Legacy Park
b. Legacy via downtown to Park Street down Forest
Street to Shore Lodge
c. City to Deinhard to Riverfront Park
d. Down Highway 55 to Warren Wagon Road
3. Bike path design to emphasize:
a. Minimizing use conflicts (see Objective IX under
goals and strategies)
b. Incorporating views of waterfront and natural
amenities
c. Vest pocket parks and natural areas
d. At least minimum standard (Class 3) bikeways.
e. Safety and interpretive signage
4. Emphasize extention of bike path into neighborhood areas
and into other areas of interest expressed by the community.
Art Roberts Park
1. Redesign park and replace sprinkling system to accommo-
date the following uses:
a. Street level sitting area landscaped with hardy pe-
rennials & shrubs, benches, picnic tables and low
maintenance walkways to give shoppers, downtown
area employees, senior citizens and the handicapped a
lakeview place in the middle of town to take a break
or eat a snack. The design must accommodate the
winter use of this area as a stage for Winter Carnival.
b. Grassy areas for relaxation and play
c. Larger beach
d. Restrooms
Make short term improvements and repairs
a. Replace 2 sections of dock, west of park, install
dock bumpers
b. Remove existing restroom facility
c. Repair drinking fountain
d. Clean lake bottom
e. Assess and if necessary, make improvements neces-
sary to comply with the Americans with Disabilities
Act.
Ibis section continued next page
' McCall Dept. of Parks and Recreation
v. Tour! Grrdr, cbrrlr - Members: Donn s Oylt% Ktill►y Killefl, fire Move, Grn_� 1'mr Kollir•u
D1vls
Davis Beach
1. Construct restroom facility.
2. Install swimming buoys.
3. Build retaining walls around the exposed roots of trees for
improved safety and aesthetics.
4. Relocate some mismatched picnic tables from Legacy Park
to Davis Beach
5. Assess and if necessary, make improvements necessary to
comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
6. Relocate docks to one side to better protect swim area
7. Define parking area, pave and mark.
Mill Park
1. Replace sprinkler system (from '87 master plan)
2. Install children's playground equipment beside restroom.
3. Re -plant high - maintenance garden areas that have fallen
into disrepair with less demanding ground covers and vegeta-
tion.
4. Assess and if necessary, make improvements necessary to
comply with Americans with Disabilities Act.
5. Expand parking.
6. Improve access at Hemlock Street
7. Relocate restrooms to park entrance and combine with an
information kiosk.
ommunity Park
Eliminate the need for mowing this tiny little site by replac-
g grass with low growing perennial ground cover.
Coordinate maintenance with the volunteer efforts of
iyette Lakes Progressive Club
ennis Courts. Neighborhood Parks
Assess sites and evaluate value to park system Attach
!commendations as addendums to master plan.
Tbis section continued next page
McCall Dept. of Parks and Recreation
iun►1 Grub, chair • Members: Dennis Op le, Fulh� l�illwr. Ji►►► R'en-e•, Ge►►•) 1 "lur KI -14vt
April, 1994
Page 12
Rotary Park
1. Relocate some of the mismatched picnic tables from Legacy
Park to grassy area.
2. Remove large rocks from water's edge.
3. Build retaining walls around the exposed roots of trees for
improved safety and aesthetics.
4. Enclose back of garbage area
5. Improve steepness of steps
6. Clean lake bottom
7. Assess and if necessary, make improvements necessary to
comply with Americans with Disabilities Act.
8. Safer surface for playground
9. Coordinate maintenance and improvements with the volun
teen efforts of the McCall Rotary Club
Legacy Park
1. Manage use of volleyball court to minimize impacts on
neighboring businesses.
2. Install swim buoys.
3. Construct an observation deck over the concrete pylons on
the southeast shore.
4. Construct pole fence along rim walkway to discourage
traffic on bank.
5. Purchase 6 matching picnic tables and relocate mismatched
existing tables to Rotary Park and Davis Beach.
7. Install drinking fountain
8. Clean lake bottom
9. Improve appearance of pumphouse with shade awnings
and benches.
10. Assess and if necessary, make improvements necessary to
comply with Americans with Disabilities Act.
11. Complete Phase I with sidewalk around eastern perimeter
{
j, McCall Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Iuu1i Grule, choir • .1lrwhrrs: D4.1111A G11•1•. both), tiillenji111 llilrr. Gr11• 1"(111 Ko wd-11
In preparation for the writing of this master plan, the Parks
and Recreation Advisory Committee toured the city's existing
parks and made a checklist of desired improvements and
repairs. That list is the basis for the site specifics section of
the plan. The master plan lists the committee's entire "wish
Actions
list ". This section lists what our priorities are and what we
believe
are those of the community.
•
S
On April 26, 1993, the parks and recreation committee con-
peC is
ducted a public hearing on this master plan drab. The hearing
was well attended and the committee heard the opinions of
several concerned citizens.
Keeping that public comment in mind each committee mem-
Park Sites
ber was asked to weight the actions recommended in this
master plan according to their order of preference. The scores
PRIORITIES
were totaled to produce this priority list. Our goal is to see
that most of this list is accomplished in the five year term of
the plan.
1. Finish aquiring land for bike path
2. Design and construct bike path
3. Relocate docks, install swim buoys at Davis Beach
4. Construct a restroom at Davis Beach
5. Make all listed improvements to Fairway Park, including
constructing a restroom, and make all recommended small
improvements to existing parks
6. Install a pole fence around the rim of Legacy Park, redesign
and remodel Art Roberts Park and define /pave parking area at
Davis Beach
7. Design and construct core facilities at Riverfront Park
8. Replace dock at Art Roberts Park
9. Construct east perimeter sidewalk at Legacy and improve
pumphouse exterior appearance
10. Fill in old restroom at Art Roberts and construct new one
11. Construct an observation deck on top of old pilings at
Legacy Park, replace sprinklers at Mill Park, expand parking
at Mill Park
12. Identify and develop undeveloped neighborhood parks
13. Make recommended improvements to Community Park
April, 1994
Page 13
14. Relocate restroom in Mill Park to entrance (to serve both
park and bike path traffic) and construct an information kiosk
Park & Rec Priorities Tally j 3/21/94
Project ITomi Dennis i Kathy ,Komen
Ware
Baker
Total
1. Blke Path Land A ulsition 1 1 1 1
1
1'
6
2. Bike Path Design & Construction
1
1
1
1 1
11
21
7
3. Swim buo s /dock relocation - Davis Beach
1
1
1
3
3
1
10
4. Restroom at Davis Beach
2
1
2'
3
4
1
13
5. Fairway Park Improvement package
3
1
2
4
3
1
14
wild restrooms, add shade trees, etc.
Little stuff-all parks
1
2;
1
5
3
2
14
icnic fables, minor landscaping improvements)
Restroom st Fairway Park
1
1
21
4
5
1
14
6. Pole fence, Legacy Park -
1.
4,
1 5
3
2
16
Art Roberts Park redesign
I 1
1 2
i 31 51
3
2'
16
Define/pave parkIng area -Davis Beach
I 2
21
3 31
31
3'
16
7. Riverfront Park Construction
41
3!
41
2
2
21
17
S. Dock replacement-Art Roberts
21
5
21
3
3
3
18
9. East perimeter sidewalk - Legacy
51
21 2 1
5
4
1
19
Pumphouse exterior Improvements-Logacy
1
4 21
5
4
3
19
10. Restroom at Art Roberts
5'
S
1
5
4
2
22
11. Observation deck, Legacy Park
3'
51
21
51
4
4
23
Sprinkler system replacement-Mill Park
5;
3
41
5
4
2
23
Parking ex nslon, MITI Park
21
4,
41
5
4
4
23
11. Neighborhood Park development
51
41
51
5
2
3
24
12. Community Park Improvement package
51
41
5 i
5
2
5
26
13. Restroom relocation/info kiosk, Mill Park
51
51
41
5
4
5
28
/q yy
McCall council hears plan n'. J ofl�
for park
By Shari Hambleton
The slar News
An artist's rendition of the pro-
posed Riverside Park may not be
able to halt gravel extraction from
the city -owned gravel pit on Mis-
sion Road, but it may influence
where the digging is concentrated
so less rehabilitation is needed
when the time comes to begin con-
struction.
McCall Parks and Recreation
task force member Kathy Killen
presented McCall -City Council
members with a proposed artist
layout of what Riverside Park
could possibly look like at comple-
tion.
The plan included baseball, soft-
ball and soccer fields, tennis and
volleyball courts, an ice and roller
rink, concert stage with amphithe-
ater seating, children's play area,
gazebo and horseshoe pits.
"We're not here for
money... and we're not here
to promote any bonds. The
project will hopefully be
built with private donations
and grants.
—Kathy Killen
The park, across Mission from
the McCall Smokejumper Base, is
situated along the North Fork of
the Payette River where the city
now excavates gravel for city
projects.
While the majority of the Riv-
erside Park plan lies on property
owned by the city, a portion of it
spills over onto federal property
and privately -owned land.
That is just the beginning of the
considerations the McCall Parks
and Recreation Department will
need to resolve before going for-
ward with the project.
Killen said task force members
working on the Riverside Park plan
realize the project is in its infant
stages.
But a plan has to start some-
where and the artist layout is one
step closer to realizing the dream
of a developed recreational com-
plex in McCall.
"We're not here for money,"
Killen told council members. "And
we're not here to promote any
bonds. The project will hopefully
be built with private donations and
grants."
But before grants can be ap-
plied for a plan has to be developed.
Now the task force have that plan
in hand.
"We're still very much com-
mitted to the master plan," Killen
said. "We realize we need to take
care of what we have before start-
ing something new."
She said the need for an actual
plan materialized last year when
former McCall City Councilman
Francis Wallace discovered trees
beine cut down at the eravel pit.
Concerned the trees would be im-
possible to replace, Wallace took
steps to halt cutting until more
concrete plans for the park could
be developed, Killen said.
With a plan in hand, gravel ex-
cavation at the pit could continue
in =a, manner that could help the
development of the budding park
rather than require expensive and
time consuming rehabilitation,
Killen said.
The park rendition was created
by Toothman - Ortman Engineer-
ing designer Jim Fronk whose time
was donated by the company.
"We can't say enough to thank
Toothman - Ortman," Killen said.
"We wouldn't have been able to
get plans like this without spend-
ing a lot of money."
s
i=
i
i
i
Gam,
PARKING
Fe
WHITE AREAS ENCLOSED \
IN DOTTED LINES INDICATE
PARK LANDS CURRENTLY OWNED
BY THE CITY OF liliicCALL
Stdf- /10U)5
i
Star -News graphic by Tomi Grote
PROPOSED PARK FEATURES • Tennis & Volleyball Courts
A• Multi Purpose Field (baseball, softball, soccer) Ee Children's Play Area w /Concrete Slides
B. Ice /Roller Rink, Concert Stage
w /Amphitheater Seating F• Gazebo
Ce Playing Fields (baseball /softball) G• Horseshoe Pits
Star -News Photo by Shari Hambleton
Gardeners work on park
Susie Marshall and Jodi Burnett,
intern Master Gardeners with the
Valley County Extension Service,
dig into McCall Community Park
on Third Street last Friday. The
pair and other Master Gardener
volunteers spent the morning clean-
ing up the park's flower beds for
summer and renovating overgrown
perennials. Another group of vol-
unteers will divide the clumps of
plants removed from the park and
replant them in the hillside at
Legacy Park, pending approval of
the plan by the City of McCall. If all
goes as planned, the hillside, which
now suffers from erosion and foot
traffic, will be stabilized and flow-
ers will bloom among the grasses
next year.
/?15 �o�i
lens - �� ?,4
McCall Rec, F &G
to loan fishing gear
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Slur -News
Anglers who get an itch to go fish-
ing but don't have their own fishing
gear will soon be able to borrow equip-
ment from the McCall Recreation
Department through a loaner program
sponsored by Sportfishing Promotion
Council.
The department will receive a ship-
ment of rods, reels and tackle later
this month, which will be available
for use at no charge.
The program is being sponsored
locally by the McCall Recreation
Department and the Idaho Depart-
ment of Fish and Game. The agencies
contributed $250 each to start the
program, and they will dedicate an-
other $200 annually to maintain it.
The first time a person checks out
fishing equipment from the recreation
department, he or she will get a fish-
ing pole and a small tackle box with
hooks, sinkers, bobbers. The person
then returns the rod and reel within
three days, but keeps the tackle box
for future fishing trips.
The program intends to get people,
especially children, involved in fish-
ing who do not have their own
equipment, said Bob Peckham of the
McCall Recreation Department. The
program also is for those who are
considering purchasing their own
equipment but would like to try fish-
ing beforehand, Peckham said.
The fishing equipment is also avail-
able for locals with visitors who did
not bring their own fishing equip-
ment, but would like to go fishing, he
said.
Peckham sees the loaner program
as good way to get people involved in
a family activity they can always
enjoy. "It's a lifetime sport," he
said. "You can always go fishing; it
doesn't matter how old you are."
The recreation department and
F &G will also hold several fishing
clinics throughout the year, with the
next one tentatively scheduled this
winter during ice fishing season.
The Sportfishing Promotion
Council, which founded the loaner
program, expects to loan 63,000 fish-
ing poles nationally this year and
introduce 27,000 new anglers to fish-
ing.
-"67H �S�ar - l'l 'dWS - 9/;r/ ss-
VB, BB starts
The McCall Recreation Program
will be hosting-adult volleyball and
basketball sessions on Sunday and
Wednesday evenings starting this
Sunday.
Adult basketball sessions will be
held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sun-
day evenings and 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday evenings. Adult volley-
ball will be held from 5:30 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings and
8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday
evenings.
Adult volleyball starts Sunday at
5:30 p.m. and will include a skills
clinic conducted by Jenny Phelps, a
McCall - Donnelly High School vol-
leyball coach.
All sessions will be held in the
McCall - Donnelly High School gym.
Sessions cost $1 per person, per night.
Fees will be collected at the door.
5 f k e t tJS
McCall OKs paintball park,
BY JEANNE SEOL ment at 634 -3006 to schedule
The Star -News
Two McCall teen -agers are
working with the McCall Recre-
ation Department to develop what
could be the first public paintball
park in the country.
Andrew Ray and Eric Taplin,
both 17, plan to open a municipal
paintball field at the proposed
Riverfront Park by next week. The
park is located on Mission Street
across from the McCall
Smokejumper Base.
All participants must have their
own paintball equipment and should
call the McCall Recreation Depart-
games.
Paintball is a sport similar to
"tag" or "hide and seek," but uses
airguns that shoot round, gelatin -
like capsules of colored liquid at
opponents. Once "hit," an oppo-
nent is "eliminated" from the game.
Other types of play can include
"capture the flag."
"It's comparable. to bungee-
jumping, adrenaline- wise," Ray
said. "It's a great way to relieve
stress, get outdoors and get exer-
cise."
All players are required to wear
full -face masks, Ray said. First-
mcwr _-2 9, lg9'I
BMX track
time players need a paintball gun,
paintballs and mask. Start-up costs
are about $125 and equipment can
be purchased in McCall at Medley
Sports, Ridley's, PayLess Drug, or
Art's Sports Shop.
Ray said he believes McCall's
paintball park will be the first pub-
lic park in the United States. Al-
though the sport is played in about
30 different countries, all parks are
privately owned and maintained,
he said.
Ray and Taplin got permission
from the McCall City Council last
Thursday to open the paintball fa-
cility on a trial period of one sum-
mer. The sport is an interim activity
until the park is officially devel-
oped, Recreation Director Bob
Peckham said.
In other action last Thursday,
council members also approved the
development of a 1/4 -mile BMX
bicycle racing track at the Riverfront
Park site. The track will be built by
volunteers and is for bicycles - not
motorcycles - Peckham said.
Helmets will be required at the
facility. The track is also an interim
activity until the park is developed,
Peckham said.
PAGE B -8 - THE STAR -NEWS - THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007
l •_ t
Above: Monika Trapp, Eric
McCormick and Terry Sherman
of the city of McCall parks
department discuss relocation
details for one of the trees
removed from Legacy Park last
week. A total of 33 trees were
moved, with 24 transferred to
the golf course and nine moved
to the city's water treatment
plant. Movement of the trees
was necessary to make space for
planned improvements to Legacy
Park this summer by the McCall
Urban Redevelopment Agency.
Below: Lonesome Dove
Construction in McCall
volunteered its labor and
materials for the renovation of
the restrooms at Rotary Park on
Monday. Crews braved a spring
snowstorm to replace rotting logs
on the i estroom. Owner Larry
Dammi rman, also a member of
the McCall Rotary Club, said he
has strong feelings about helping
build the community's family
values by creating fun and safe
locations. "A project like this
gives our crew the opportunity
to be involved in building that
community, and even though
they build for a living, activities
like this are fun and it helps
to establish our sense of who we
areas a team," he said. Crew
members who took part included
Travis Woods, Bill Klingler,
Lloyd Cooper, Mark Teed, Ashlee
Stringer, Mike Stringer, Project
Manager Jay Cox and Noel Cox.
Photo for The Star -News by Matt Moehr Photography
S7�h Ne,uj9 /99,7,
P., Page. 1 cP
PaintbaH game gets the juices flowing
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
When the first paintball whizzed
by my head, all thoughts of my as-
signment to cover the new paintball
park in McCall evaporated and I could
only think of one thing - I'm going to
get that guy.
I climbed a dirt hill and slid into a
bunker. I poked the barrel of my bor-
rowed paintball gun through some
tree branches and popped off a few
rounds at my opponent, who was hid-
ing behind oil drums about 25 yards
away and lobbing a steady stream of
paintballs in my direction.
I laughed to myself as his paintballs
dropped harmlessly several feet shy
of my position. I was out of his range,
but since gravity was my ally, I fig-
ured if I took careful aim, I could drop
one on top of him and eliminate one of
three people who were stalking my
partner and myself.
Then I felt a splat upside my head
and felt the gooey white paint trickle
past my ear.
I cursed under my breath, raised
my arms in surrender and removed
myself from the playing field. Al-
though technically I had just been
"killed," the only injury I sustained
nN=
Roger
Phillips
started
paintball park at the undeveloped
Riverfront Park site in McCall want
people to know they know the differ -
ence between real guns and paintball
guns, and they are playing a game, not
making a political statement.
"We don't want to look like the
Timmy McVeigh society," said An
drew Ray, one of the paintball park
organizers, referring to the convicted
Oklahoma City bomber.
Ray, along with Eric Taplin,
pitched the idea of a paintball park to `
the McCall Recreation Department,
then to the McCall Citv Council. which
unanimously agreed to let the pair do
it as an interim use for the park, which
is largely a vacant lot with fill dirt and
some natural cover.
Ray, Taplin and others hauled in
barrels, pallets, tires and scrap wood
for structures, then dug bunkers and
n area with ribbon to
was a bruised ego. cordoned off a
After I sat down and my pulse set boundaries.
subsided to its normal rate, I returned About 20 people in McCall are
now using the new park. Most of them
are teen - agers, predominantly male.
They've all invested a consider-
able amount of money into the sport.
The basic equipment, which consists
of a gun, a full face mask, water -
soluble and biodegradable paintballs,
and clothing, costs from$125 to $250.
They believe that having a place
to my thoughts about how to commu-
nicate this experience. I realized that
some people just wouldn't get it - why
a bunch of teen -agers dressed in cam-
ouflage clothes would want to run
around and shoot each other with
gumball -sized paintballs. But now I
understood.
Because it's fun.
to play will reduce the chances of
conflict with others, or people using
paintball guns where they could acci-
dentally shoot unintended targets.
"If you have a semi - structured
place, less things will go wrong," Ray
said. "This is a good area because
there is not anything around you can
hit."
The park is open from 10 a.m. to 10
p.m. every Saturday for games. Play-
ers must be 14 years or older, and
those wishing to play must sign a
waiver at the recreation office behind
,the McCall Public Library or at the
,;.park. All players must wear proper
safety equipment, and adhere to safety
rules.
"We're all friends, and you don't
want to hurt your friends," Ray said.
There are a variety of games they
can play, depending on the number of
_people involved. With fewer people,
they play a version of tag, where the
team with the last man remaining is
the winner. With more players, they
can play "capture the flag," or sce-
nario games.
Ray and Taplin are trying to pur-
chase rental equipment for play, but
for now, players must provide their
own gear, which din be purchased
locally at 'Medley Sports, Ridley's,
PayLess Drug or Art's Sports Shop in
McCall.
5 t" r- Ne w S 30 a. !�i /QQj
Eric Taplin of McCall stalks his target as part of a
game of paintball at the undeveloped Riverfront
Park on Mission Street. Taplin and Mark Ellison,
rear, are part of a group of local residents who are
Star -News Photo by Roger Phillips
staging paintball contests at the site each
Saturday. Star -News Reporter Roger Phillips
played the game, and his report can be found
on Page 7.
-Nc 2cf a
J
7
Payette to give McCall first crack
to buy Riverfront Park land
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
The city of McCall has a
chance to acquire a key parcel
of land adjacent to the proposed
Riverfront Park site, McCall City
Council members were told. .
The Forest Service will give
the city first offer on 4.6 acres
along Mission Street across from
the McCall Smokejumper Base,
McCall District Ranger Shane
Jeffries told council members
last Thursday night.
The city has until next March
to decide if it wants the land. No
cost has been set, but an appraisal
will be done this fall.
If the city does not commit to
purchasing the land by March,
the land would be sold to the
highest bidder.
"Our choice would be to sell
directly to the city," Kathy Nash,
specialusesprogrammanagerfor
the Payette forest, said. "We need
the city's intentions by March. If
they aren't able to do it,, it would
go up for competitive bid."
The Forest Service can ei-
ther sell the land by direct sale,
where the sale of the land would
be for the amount the land was
appraised, or through a bidding
process.
Recently the Payette forest
sold five parcels of land in Coun-
cil and New Meadows for $603,000
through open bidding.
The Payette forest is plan-
ning to sell 16 additional acres
of land in McCall in 2009. The
land houses the Krassel Ranger
District offices, a daycare facility,
smokejumper housing and other
assets across Mission Street from
McCall- Donnelly High School.
There is also a property in New
Meadows with three houses and
four other buildings that would
be a part of the sell-off.
The money from the sales
would be used to construct a
campus to consolidate the Payette
forest's offices, housing and other
facilities on the 10 acres on the
corner of Mission and Lake
streets.
The site now housing McCall
District offices and the forest's fire
warehouse.
Construction at the site would
begin no earlier than 2010, Nash
said.
Consolidating the assets of the
Payette forest wouldmean it could
sale the $359,000 a year it is now
paying to lease its administration
building on Lakeside Avenue.
The lease requires a 90 -day
notice to leave, Boyd Hartwig,
spokesperson for Payette forest,
said.
McCall still has plans to one
day develop 15 to 20 acres of land
it owns along the North Fork of
the Payette River into Riverfront
Park, parks and recreation direc-
tor Brock Heasley said.
Acquiring the forest service
parcel would guarantee the city
park would have access from Mis-
sion Street to the park, Heasley
said.
"The city hopes and expects
to be the buyer for that land," he
said. "If we don't acquire the land
it could leave Riverfront Park
landlocked." '
The plans call for about $6
million to be spent on the park.
Several ideas for the park have
been discussed, which include
tennis and basketball courts, an
amphitheater, water features in
the river to create a play wave for
kayakers and a greenhouse.
y
CLUB STARTS SCENIC HIKES - The McCall Hiking Club started
a new class of hike this year, called the "scenic" hike, with less miles,
less elevation gain, slower pace and trails closer to McCall. Pictured
are hikers returning from a recent hike to the North Fork of Kennally
Creek. From left are Roberta Thompson, Margie Sarback, Dell Red-
fern, Marlin Jones, Cheryl Redfern, Anita Blanchard, Linda Gaba-
rino, John Gabarino, Char Farris, Vern Farris, Marcy Hovey, Joan
Apodaca, Suzie Smith, Tina DeCleur, Keri Foster and Joe DeCleur.
See www.mccalihikingclub.org for details on future hikes.
PAGE C -5 - THE STAR -NEWS - THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2008
Photo by Carol Coyle
VETERANS PARK PLANTINGS - Members of the McCall
Improvement Committee last week helped plant $1,000 of perennials
and annuals at Veteran's Community Park. The plantings, paid by
the committee, was part of its goal to promote flowers and improved
landscaping in parks and other city -owned property. The group gave
$1,500 last year to build an irrigation system for the park. Pictured,
back row from left, are Judy Maguire, Jim Trino, and Michael Burke,
with Carolyn Trino in front.
Rotary Park bathrooms undergo $20,000 rennovation
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
The bathrooms at Rotary
Park in McCall have received
more than $20,000 in renovations
since this winter, McCall Parks
and Recreation Director Brock
Heasley said.
The bathrooms at the popular
lake front park were reroofed in
March. Newlogs wereput inplace
to replace rotten logs this winter
and the interior of thebathrooms
were completely remodeled.
Lonesome Dove Construction
donated the logs for the project.
. Remodeling of the interior
of the two public restrooms cost
$6,000. The city used $3,000 in
Local Option Tax money to put
a new roof on the building.
New tile was placed. on the
floor by The Tile Lady, Sandy
Gebhards, and the walls were
painted red, Heasley said. New
wood trim was also added.
New . pedestal sinks and toi-
lets were also installed in the
bathrooms.
The project began in Decem-
ber, after the first bathroom was
remodeled. The city began work
on the second bathroom in April
and the work was completed this
month.
Photo for The Star -News by Michael Wells
McCall Parks Lead Terry Sherman
inspects new the work around
a drain in the floor of one of the recently remodeled bathrooms at
Rotary Park.
The city also made an effort
better insulation in the building
to make the bathrooms more
to help with heating bills.
environmentally friendly by in-
"I'mproudof it," SeniorParks
stalling motion - detecting lights
Maintenance Worker Joni Noble
that automatically shut off.
said. "It makes the park a more
Electric hand dryers were in-
pleasant place to come visit."
stalled, which replaced the need
There are more plans to
for paper towels. Battery -oper-
spruce up the park, including
ated soap dispensers were also
plans to build a new playground
installed. The city also installed
at the park, Heasley said.
Photo at
top shows
Veterans
Memorial
Park in
2001, the
year the
memorial
was
dedicated.
Bottom is a
photo taken
this summer
showing
renovations
to the park
and the
former city
jail, shown
at left.
2001 Photo
courtesy city of
McCall/2008
photo by Michael
Wells, The Star -
News
Park
(Continued,t'rom Page B -1)
Jevon Truex of Network
Architects was hired to do
the rehabilitation design and
designed the pathway area
and planter at the park located
on Third Street in downtown
McCall.
Travis Construction was
hired by the city to fix the
concrete and stucco walls of
the jail in 2005. The company
also painted the jail, sealed the
roof and restored the door and
barred windows and cell doors
for the jail building, which was
originally built for $650 in 1930.
54,,,,E
A Park Transformation
Volunteers, hard work have made
Veterans Memorial Park a showpiece
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
Veterans Memorial Park has come a long way since
2001 due to the collaborative efforts of city staff and
several organizations in McCall, city Grants Coordina-
tor Carol Coyle said.
In 1999, the city was awarded a $21,500 Scenic
Byways grant to help restore the former McCall Jail,
Coyle said.
On Veterans Day 2001, the McCall American Legion
Post 119 dedicated the veterans memorial at the park,
American Legion Member Tony Nash said.
"We were looking for a place to display the flag in
downtown McCall," Nash said. "At that time, there
were no flags in downtown McCall. It turned out to be
a great place for that purpose."
See PARK, Page B -3
Electricity was reinstalled for
lights in the jail, Coyle said.
The McCall Historic Preser-
vation Commissionpurchased
signs from Rocky Mountain
Signs for the jail and a few
artifacts in 2007 and 2008.
A jail stove was donated by
Joan Lee, a McCall resident,
and other artifacts for the jail
were donated this year by Glo-
ria Cantrell of Farm to Market
Antiques, Coyle said.
Annual flowers were plant-
ed and a sprinkler system was
installed through the collabo-
ration of The Valley County
Master Gardeners, the Payette
Lakes Progressive Club, the
McCallImprovement Commit-
tee, and the McCall Parks and
Recreation Department.
High Mountain Nursery
installed the irrigation sys-
tem, and the groups purchased
$1,000 of plants that were
Planted this spring in the
park.
"It's a park we are proud
of, and people like to use
the park," Parks Supervisor
Monika Trapp said. "There
were a lot of organizations
involved in making this park
the special place it is today."
I.;oa
PAGE A -9 - THE STAR -NEWS - THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2008
s as first Legacy Boat - trailer parking open Park milestone
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
Legacy Park improvements
have notched a milestone
recently in the completion
of paving of the boat trailer
parking lot south of Fir Street,
projectmanagerTim Swanson
said.
The next step for the project
is to come up with a suitable
striping and landscaping
plan for the parking lot, said
Swanson, who oversees the
construction of the project
for the McCall Urban Renewal
Agency.
The striping and landscap-
ing plan will have to go before .
the McCall Area Planning &
Zoning Commission, he said.
Work continues on the
project to revamp Legacy Park
into a more attractive park for
visitors to Payette Lake.
A sidewalk and prom-
enade is likely to be the next
completed project in the
redevelopment of the park,
he said. The sidewalk along
East Lake Street that joins a
promenade with seating walls
overlooking the park would
likely be completed sometime
next month.
A sewer line had to be re-
placed under East Lake Street
that has put the proj ect behind
about one month, Swanson
said.
The street would also likely
be paved and ready for traffic
by late September or early
October, he said.
A public restroom that was
built underground has been
plumbed and the concrete
walls have been poured. It
awaits windows and com-
pletion of the fixtures and
interior walls.
Hillside Landscape Con-
struction of Boise is doing
the work for $1.9 million with
completion expected by the
end of the year.
The park remodel includes
an amphitheater, new beach,
volleyball court, walking
path, promenade, spray play
area and the underground
restroom.
The park should be ready
for visitors by Memorial Day
next year, depending on the
weather, Swanson said.
The agency had $2.3 million
remaining from a $5 million
bond to complete the project.
The bonds will be paid back
with increased property taxes
within the district.
Star -NEWS Photo by Whael WellS
The parking lot for boat trailers south of Fir Street was recently paved as a part of the Legacy Park improvement project. A plan
to stripe the parking lot and add landscaping is next.
E. Lake Street along Legacy Park mrc
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
Next week could be a big
week of milestones at the
Legacy Park improvements
project currently under con -
struction in downtown McCall,
but weather delays could slow
progress, project manager
Tim Swanson said.
Paving on East Lake Street
may begin as soon as Friday
afternoon, Swanson said.
Other major portions of the
project could alsobegin taking
shapenextweekif theweather
cooperates.
When the street is paved,
it could be opened for traffic
at the end of each day after
construction ceases, Swanson
said.
A set of storm water pipes
sits atop the edge of a trench
that is designed to whisk away
water to keep mud puddles
from forming in the park.
New sod, trees and shrubs
could be in place by next week,
as well provided the weather
cooperates, Swanson said.
"The rain didn't help a bit,"
Swanson said. "We need July
weather in October."
There is about 250 more feet
to go on the sea line walkway
between the amphitheater
and beach.
The upper promenade is 80
percent complete and should
be completed by next week,
he said.
"We're making progress,"
Swanson said.
A spray and play area will
be in place within the next
few weeks.
A`
Star -News Photo by Michael Wells
Construction workers from Hillside Landscape Construction in Boise continue work on the
promenade that runs along East Lake Street at the Legacy Park urban renewal improvements
project. Next week may hold many construction milestones for the project as East Lake Street
may be paved, the promenade completed and sod, trees and shrubs are put in place.
"The public should stay
out of the park until we are
finished for safety reasons,"
Swanson said.
The beach could also be in
place before the winter.
"It will either be one of the
last things that gets done this
fall or one of the first things
done next spring," he said.
Striping in the already
paved parking lot along Fir
Street and a volleyball court
will be completed next year.
Hillside Landscape Con-
struction of Boise is doing the
park improvement work for
$1.9 million. The contractor
has until Nov 23 to substan-
tially complete the remodel
of the park.
The park remodel includes
an amphitheater, new beach,
volleyball court, walking
path, promenade, spray play
area and an underground
restroom.
The park should be ready
for visitors by Memorial Day
next year, depending on the
weather.
The project is being fi-
nanced with $5 million in
bonds issued by the McCall
Redevelopment Agency.
The agency used bond
funds to retire $588,000 in old
debt, $722,000 to buy land for
the project, $450,000 in project
engineering fees, $109,000 to
issue the bonds and holds
$479,000 in a bond reserve ac-
count. The bonds will be paid
back with new property taxes
captured by the district.
q Jgj'e.
Waiting
for Relief
Planning for
restroom at Art
Roberts Park takes
18 months
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
After 18 months of
planning, designing and
redesigning,a prefabricated
unisex restroom for the public
is nearly ready to be placed
at Art Roberts Park in down-
town McCall.
The bathroom may be
completed by November,
Parks and Recreation Direc-
tor Brock Heasley said.
The area around the new
restroom will see new brick
pavers, new benches and
new flowers, and a tile floor
will be installed in the new
restroom.
However, there is still
the question of whether the
bathroom will sit five feet or
fourfeeteastof Krahn'sHome
"Furnishings.
There is also debate over
whether the re stroom w ill block
too much view of Payette Lake
from East Lake Street.
Last month, McCall Area
Planning and Zoning Commis-
sion approved the restroom,
but only after it was downsized
from a 10 -foot by 20 -foot two -
stall restroom to a 10 -foot by
12 -foot unisex bathroom.
Then the city changed the
zoning for all its city parks
to a new '`civic zone," which
requires a five -foot setback for
all structures. But the council
repealed that setback require-
ment last month.
Council Member Don
Bailey then asked that the
building be moved closer to
Krahn's in order to save more
of the view for visitors to the
park. However, the bathroom
has a back door for mainte-
nance that needs clearance
to enter. The setback remains
unresolved.
The bathroom's front door
is planned to face east with a
new bench facing the door.
That did not sit well with
Council Member Marcia
Witte, who asked if the bath-
room's front door could face
Lake Street.
However, the bathroom
also has a bulletin board on
the side wall that the parks
department wants to face
Lake Street.
See ROBERTS, Page A-3
Roberts
Sion to build the restroom.
That permission was granted
in May, almost a year after
the LOT money was recom-
(Continued from Page A -1)
mended to the project.
in March 2007, the McCall
With that hurdle out of the
City Council set the process
the parks
way the P &Z this spring con -
the parks department
in motion by asking
department to go before the
vinced
that the restroom should be
Local Option Tax Commis-
money for the
smaller.
- The new smaller restroom
sion to request
restroom.
theinitiallarger
now had to go before building
inspector Gregory Nicholas
Thecostof
restroom was about $65,000
was an additional
to make sure the restroom
was adequately sized and
and there
$20,000neededforbrickpaving
conformed to city code.
asked for
and other costs.
The LOT Commission
Then city staffers
an estimate on how much it
recommended $65,000 to the
city council, which left $20,000
needed for the project.
The McCall Improvement
Committee was approached
by Parks and Recreation Ad-
visory Committee Chair Jim
Clarke to secure the rest of the
funding last year.
Meanwhile, the city learned
the land had a deed restriction Oil
put in place by
I CO., the original donor of the
property, that did not allow
buildings on the land.
The city had to go to Con
' tinental Oil Co., the successor
to Westcott Oil, to get permis-
would cost to partially bury
the restroom to reduce block-
ing the view. That estimate
came back at about $374,000.
City staff then looked at
not building the restroom at
Art Roberts Park at all, and
looked at several different lo-
cations in downtown McCall.
However, none of the other
sites were deemed suitable.
The P &Z also asked city
staffers to look at the cost of
moving the restroom from Art
Roberts Park if the location
turned out to be a bad idea.
That cost was estimated at
between $3,000 and $5,000. The
project was finally approved
by the P &Z last month.
s�xn.WIA
PAGE A -3 - THE STAR -NEWS - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2008
Photo for The Star -News by Gary Ertter
LEGACY WORK NEARS COMPLETION - Crews last week paved East Lake Street as part
of the renovation of Legacy Park and surrounding areas by the McCall Redevelopment Agency.
The street was opend to traffic after the paving, allowing motorists to view the various amenities
being installed at the park along the Payette Lake shore. Work is expected to be completed by the
end of the year.
Star -News Photo by Michael Wells
McCall Golf Course Assistant Superintendent Billy Romero drives a skid track to level rocks at
McCall's newest beach at Brown Park Friday. The city will add the new beach by next July. A felt
liner will be placed over the rocks and sand will be hauled in to create the new beach.
Beach takes shape at Brown Park
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
There will be a new beach
for people to enjoy the waters
of Payette Lake next year.
Brown Park Beach will
provide swimmers and sun-
bathers one more public beach
within city limits on Payette
Lake. The city parks depart-
ment maintains beaches at
Rotary Park, Art Roberts Park,
Legacy Park, Davis Beach and
now Brown Park.
The new beach is located
in the southern corner of
Brown Park, which is north
of Mile High Marina. It faces
the southwestern sky for the
best sunbathing opportunity
at a city beach. There are also a
number of trees for those who
seek shade.
All that remains for the new
beach are a felt liner and sand,
McCall Parks and Recreation
Director Brock Heasley said.
Loads of rock were put in
place last week. A felt liner
will be installed over the flat-
tened rock base before sand
will placed on top of the new
beach.
The popular park also fea-
tures the fish pen docks where
rainbow trout are raised
through the summer months
before being released in the
lake for anglers.
The new beach should be
ready by July, Heasley said.
"It has taken years to get
the parks where they need to
be," he said. "So now we can
be more proactive by adding
newamenities to theparks and
building new parks."
The small beach should get
a lot of use byfamilies, he said.
A barbecue pit may be added
to the beach.
Once lake levels rise for
the summer the beach will
be about 40 foot long by 40
foot deep.
The new beach could offer
those who seek more privacy
an alternative to McCall's
more popular beaches at Ro-
tary, Art Roberts and Legacy
parks, Recreation Supervisor
Joe Standar said.
The final cost of the new
beach is estimated at $5,000,
Heasley said.
1//f 3/d <e
r
ti
� . ( 4, "5- 4A,
ff. � 7F� 1
SPRAY 'N PLAY
A long- awaited $1.9 million
renovation of McCall's most treasured
public park will open next summer
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
$1.9 million rebuilding of Legacy Park on
Payette Lake is nearing completion. The new
park and its amenities will be ready for public
use next summer.
The contractor, Hillside Landscapingof Boise,
should finish most of the work by the end of the month. In
the spring, workers will return to do more landscaping and
fix any problems that are revealed after the snowmelt.
The first phase of the project, a large paved parking
lot between Gravity Sports and Fir Street, was opened
this summer.
The renovated park includes a pedestrian promenade
along East Lake Street that is much wider than the former
sidewalk. East Lake Street has been converted into a one -
way street with on- street parking.
Lighting throughout the park will make for a stunning
spectacle at night, even though the lights are in compli-
ance with the city's "dark sky" ordinance.
A new restroom features heated floors and is built un-
derground to increase space for amenities at the park.
The volleyball court was movedto just south of the city's
boat ramp and will be finished by the city parks staff.
Children will find the Spray and Play area a welcome
relief in the hot summer sun. Jets of water will cascade
in various patterns in a concrete area.
See LEGACY, Page B -2
Legacy
(Continued from Page B -1)
Area bands will use the
Sundial Stage to entertain
music lovers who can sit on
boulders or on the grass. And,
yes, visitors can actually tell
the time by looking at where
their shadow is cast on the
stage.
Brick walkways traverse
the park and the new beach
area stretches from the Mc-
Call Mall to south of the city's
boat ramp.
There is also a seating wall
along the summer edge of the
lake where park -goers can sit
with their feet in the sand
or dip them in the waters of
the lake.
A large wooden dock will
� v7;y4
ABOUT THE LECACY PARK
PROJECT
The renovation was built by
the McCall Urban Redevelopment
Agency, which issued $5 million in
bonds in 2006.
The agency used the bond
proceeds to retire $588,000 in old
debt, $722,000 to buy land for the
project, $450,000 in project engi-
neering fees, $109,000 to issue
the bonds and holds $479,000 in a
bond reserve account.
The bonds will be paid back with
property taxes from land within the
district, which includes Third Street
PROMENADE to Roosevelt Avenue east to Davis
Street and north to Brown Park.
some day be the anchor for
a dock that will encircle the
main beach to protect the sand
and provide swimmers aplace
to jump into the water, McCall
Parks and RecreationDirector
Brock Heasley said.
NEW LEGACY PARK DEBUTS
Photo by Gary Ertter / for The Star -News
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Memorial Day was more than the opening weekend of summer, it was also the public debut of
the renovated Legacy Park in downtown McCall. Holiday visitors broke in the park, which was
finished last fall just before the snow flew using a $1.9 million project funded by the McCall
Urban Renewal Agency. Sailor Van Middendorp, 4, of McCall, enjoys the new water play feature.
f/�� "L 0,7
Art Roberts 1/ai�M
Park gets.
full facelift
Work includes restroom,
superior beach access
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
Art Roberts Park in down-
town McCall has been totally
renovated due to civic coopera-
tion and ingenuity, according
to project managers.
The park, located between
Payette Lake and East Lake
Street, has new restrooms and
alargerpaverplazaaround the
relocated "Bearing Wall."
The project moved the pow-
er panel for lighting the park's
large tree during Christmas
and the bottom of the park has
been reshaped to eliminate the
drop off near the beach, City
Manager Lindley Kirkpatrick
said.
The improvements were
paid for mostly with $69,500 in
Local Option Tax funds. The
city added $10,000 from the
parks maintenance budget,
and $15,000 more came from
the McCallImprovement Com-
mittee, Kirkpatrick said.
The project had $94,500 in
funding, but will likely come in
under budget at about $86,000,
Kirkpatrick said. Final ex-
penses were not available at
press time.
The city also obtained a
public easement across May
Hardware -owned land on the
lakefront to one day link Art
Roberts Park and Brown Park
with a boardwalk, Kirkpatrick
said.
The city gave an easement
across the park to Idaho Power
Co. that allowed for a power
line to run to the May Hard-
ware property to the east. In
return, the city got the ease-
ment from May Hardware
and some help with sod work
in the park.
See PARK, Page A-3
Art Roberts
Art Roberts
was tong -time
mayor, civic
leader
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
Art Roberts, for whom
Art Roberts Park is named,
was prominent in McCall
for both his position as well
as his appearance.
Roberts was mayor
of McCall for 15 years
from 1949 to 1964. The
position was then known
as chairman of the board,
according to one of Rob-
erts' daughters, Jo Roberts
Peterson of Bend, Ore.
At the time, the mayor
and members of the city
council served without
pay but were given free
green fees for themselves
and their families at the
then nine -hole McCall
Municipal Golf Course,
Peterson said.
See ROBERTS,
Page A -3
Photo for The Star -News by Matt Moehr Photography
Billy Romero and Eric McCormick helped lay down sod
last Friday at the newly renovated Art Roberts Park in
downtown McCall.
Roberts
(Continued from Page A -1)
During his years as mayor,
Roberts presided from city of-
fices that were in "a stuffy little
room above the old library" on
the current site of Veterans
Memorial Park, Peterson said.
The former city hall was later
moved to the historic Roseberry
townsite and is now the main
exhibit building for the Valley
County Museum.
Roberts' occupation was
fire warden for the Southern
Idaho Timber Protective As-
sociation from 1943 until 1966.
The organization, which still
exists, fights wildfires on state
and private forests.
Roberts and his family
lived in the Fire Warden's
House that is the centerpiece
of the Central Idaho Histori-
cal Museum in McCall. The
house is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Red Hair, 6- Feet -5
Roberts was an imposing
figure and had an equally
imposing personality, his
daughter said.
"He was red - haired and
stood 6- feet -5," Peterson said.
"He had a great sense of hu-
mor and thoroughly enjoyed
people."
Roberts was instrumental
in the building of McCall Me-
morial Hospital in 1956 and
later donated land for expan-
sion of the medical complex.
He also helped build the
McCall Masonic Temple
across Hewitt Street from
the hospital. That building
was bought by the hospital
and torn down last year to
make way for future hospital
expansion.
Roberts loved McCall, but
was not fond of one of its local
legends, Sharlie the Payette
Lake serpent, according to
his daughter.
"He thought it was enough
that McCall is among the
most beautiful places on the
planet and did not need a'sea
monster' to attract visitors,"
Peterson said.
Roberts left McCall in 1966
to become executive secretary
for the Western Forestry and
Conservation Association in
Portland. He retired in 1972
and died in 1973 at age 62 after
a series of heart problems.
The east side of Art Rob-
erts Park had been owned by
the. city since the 1920s, ac-
cording to city records.
The west side of the park
was a gas station until the
1960s, when the owners of the
gas station donated the land
to the city.
The park was named for
Roberts prior to his death,
Peterson said.
Park
(Continued from Page A -1)
New sod was put in place
in the park by May Hardware,
the McCall Golf Course,
the parks department and
donations from the McCall
Improvement Committee,
parks superintendentMonika
Trapp said.
The new bathroom will
likely cut down on the number
of people who enter down-
town businesses, such as the
Manchester Ice and Event
Centre, seeking a restroom,
Trapp said.
This is the second public
restroom opened to the public
in downtown McCallthis year.
Legacy Park's improvements
added two restrooms for the
public when it opened this
spring.
Ponderosa manager hired as McCall parks director
New
McCall
Parks and
Recreation
Department
Director
Dennis
Coyle
surveys
Legacy
Park in
downtown
McCall,
one of
the parks
under his
supervision.
Star -News Photo
by Michael Wells
Coyle
(Continued from Page A -1)
"It's going to be really fun to
have a direct input on the deci.
sion- making process as parks
and rec director, Coyle said.
"I've always been involved with
the community, we love McCall,
and it seemed like a wonderful
opportunity to do more for the
community."
Top priorities on Coyle's
agenda when he joins the city
include connectingthe citywith
recreationalpathways, building
partnerships with the school
district, better coordination
of recreational opportunities
within the city, and involving
communitygroups inparks and
recreation.
The undeveloped Riverfront
Park will also be a big task in
front of Coyle when he joins
the city.
"We need to look at what
type of facilities we need
there," Coyle said. "Riverfront
has opportunities for a natural
landscape environment with
hiking and bike trails."
He looks forward to the chal-
lenge of meeting the needs of
different segments of the popu-
lation from school -age children
to senior citizens.
Coyle will make about
$67,000 per year with the city. He
made $54,000 as park manager
at Ponderosa State Park.
30 Year Career
The change also brings
Coyle a new challenge in his
career. He began workingforthe
Idaho Department of Parksand
Recreation 30 years ago while
still attending the University
of Idaho.
Among his proudest ac-
complishments at Ponderosa
are the implementation of the
Dennis Coyle oversaw expansion,
large Nordic races during tenure
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
Ponderosa Park Manager Dennis Coyle is
leaving his job to become the city of McCall's
new parks and recreation director.
Coyle replaces Brock Heasley, who resigned
last month for undisclosed reasons.
Coyle, 54, has spent the past 19 years as park
manager at the popular state park located in
McCall. He said his departure was not a quick
or easy decision, but his new job is a "wonder-
ful opportunity."
Park's natural resource plan and
Property acquisitions including
Lakeview Village, Camp Alice
Pittenger and the Church of the
Nazarene camp.
Visitation at the park in-
creased from about 135,000 per
year 15 years ago to 246,000 per
year last year, Coyle said. Rev -
enues increased 23 percent at the
park over the last 15 years.
During the winter, Nordic
skier visits increased from 9,000
15 years ago to 40,000 today.
See COYLE, Page A -2
The park's revenues in-
creased this year even though
the department statewide took
a 35 percent budget cut, Coyle
said.
During his tenure, the park
hosted several national and in-
ternational Nordic skiing events
such as the Junior Olympics in
1998 and 2002, Masters World Cup
in 2008, the U.S. National Cham-
pionships in 2004 and World
Special Olympics snowshoeing
this year.
y %e t_ A\Je 14ghq
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1 sketch courtesy city of McCall
Sketch shows the conceptual plan for Hill Climb Park between
Mill Avenue and East Lake Street.
McCall P &Z reviews
plans for hillside park
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
The city of McCall wants
to abandon an unused part
of Spruce Street near down-
town so it can build a park
between Mill Road and East
Lake Street.
The city would like to build
a small community park on the
land using the working name
Hill Climb Park.
The park would likely
include a pathway from Mill
Road to East Lake Street pro-
viding access to Payette Lake.
The land is located north of Fir
Street and south of Hemlock
Street.
Landscaping would also
be a part of. the park if the
city can negotiate a deal with
neighbors in the area, McCall
Parks and Recreation Director
Dennis Coyle told the McCall
Planning and Zoning Commis-
sion Tuesday.
The city wants to offer a
10 -foot easement on the north
and south side of the prop-
erty to neighbors adjacent
to the property in exchange
for the neighbors paying for
the development of the park,
Coyle said.
I think it has potential of
being a really nice project,"
Coyle said.
So far, no agreements have
been signed between the city
and adjacent land owners,
Coyle said.
Easements and buffers
are wanted by the adjacent
landowners, Coyle said at the
P &Z meeting Tuesday night
in McCall.
Lighting at the park could
be in compliance with the
city's dark sky ordinance by
using solar lighting at ground
level or other low level ground
lighting.
The pathway could use
numerous switchbacks to al-
low it to be accessible to the
handicapped, Coyle said.
The P &Z meeting was an
introduction to the topic and
more details will follow later,
Coyle said.
a,
i PINE 6TRE£T
_..
map courtesy miry or ma.au
STREET WORK BEGINS - The McCall Urban Renewal Agency has awarded a $590,000
contract to Granite Excavation of Cascade for a project around Mill and Pine streets near the
city boat ramp. The work includes landscaping of the public parking lot, sidewalks on Mill
Street connecting the parking lot to Pine Street, and sidewalks and landscaping on Pine Street.
Construction on the project started last week and expected to be finished by Nov. 1. A new
restroom in the parking lot funded by MURA and a state grant is also planned in a future project.
Getting Out of Park
McCall proposes 5-year plan
to develop Riverfront Park
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -News
Dennis Coyle wants to get serious about building Riverfront Park
in McCall. That is why Coyle, the city's parks and recreation director,
has drafted a five -year plan to get the 32 -acre park along the North Fork
of the Payette River developed.
Coyle's plan would see up to $725,000 spent in the next five years to
get the park underway.
Various efforts to convert the former city landfill into a park have
been mounted since the 1980s, and there is no money to fund Coyle's
five -year plan, but he hopes progress can be made.
"We will make a good faith effort to develop the park as long as
funds are available," Coyle said.
A master plan for the park was completed in 2005, but the plan needs
updating, Coyle said. A survey of the public on what they want to see
in the park will be done next year.
See PARK, Page A -16
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Sketch shows the
proposed layout of Riverfront Park+
along the North Fork of the Payette River that '
was drafted as part of a 2005 master plan for the park.
Sketch courtesy city of McCall
and softball field, an amphi- dumped in the park by city
Riverfront theater, a kayak pullout, sand crews, Coyle said.
volleyball courts, horseshoe Another small first step is
pits, a group picnic pavilion, to spend $3,000 next year to
(Continued from Page A -1) an 18 -hole disc golf course and improve access to the river,
"There may be some new dog park. parking and picnic facilities.
things people want to see Fundingoptionsare grants, Erosion problems on the
there," Coyle said. "Maybe the city's local option tax, do- approach to Sheep Bridge
they want improved river nations, property -taxes or a were fixed this year, Coyle
access like a kayak launch, bond election, Coyle said. said. Also, new gravel was also
better picnic facilities or ball One large job that needs to placed on the roadway in the
fields." be completed before the park park and signs were added.
Features included in the can be developed is finding a Both projects were funded
2005 master plan multipurpose field include socer nd place
ld asphalt thatlhas been with the
budget, department's
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