Park free here ... where?

COEUR d'ALENE - Soon, the signs will lead the way.

Because the way can be tricky, and the signs, well, they ain't up yet.

Once the city of Coeur d'Alene started renovating the 15-acre McEuen Park downtown, motorists lost out on a lot of parking, but the city has provided space close to downtown for 300 or more cars to park for free while the project is underway.

But it hasn't put out signs directing traffic that way.

So for those who haven't been downtown all that much? Forget about finding them.

"We need directional signage," said Doug Eastwood, parks director. "And we need a lot of it."

Those big, free public parking signs should be up by the end of the month.

In the meantime, motorists should be aware that the graded land east of Northwest Boulevard near Memorial Field is for parking. All of it.

It can look confusing at first, like a construction site that's about to start building, but more signs and railroad ties to mark spots will give it more of a parking lot feel. An entry point will be marked along Mullan Road but another will be on the north side of the field by the skate park.

Repeat: it's free parking.

And the city is working with Citylink to provide a free shuttle that loops downtown every 20 minutes to get people from their parked cars and back again.

And signs will lead motorists to the parking lot south of City Hall, with another 100-plus spots. But that will take a lot of signs directing people all through Sherman Avenue.

Nevertheless, Eastwood said, it's important to point out parking is available. It's just a matter of getting people there.

Info: wwwcdaid.org