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Waterfront park emerges at former lodge site

BRIAN WALKER/bwalker@cdapress.com | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years AGO
by BRIAN WALKER/bwalker@cdapress.com
| June 17, 2014 9:00 PM

SPIRIT LAKE - Spirit Lake is warming up to the soft opening of Fireside Park.

The 1.7-acre park, Spirit Lake's first lakeside city park and located at the former Fireside Lodge site, will open for the summer on June 26.

"It's coming along, and people will be able to use it in the heat of summer," said Marc Kroetch, a Spirit Lake parks board member.

Kroetch said the opening will coincide with the opening of the city's rec center on the lake which offers lake rentals.

"The idea is to come rent a canoe, kayak or paddleboard and enjoy the new park for a couple months," he said.

Sod and a sprinkler system have been installed at the park and a parking lot has been graded. A fence will be constructed this week.

"We were originally going to apply hydroseed at the park, but it doesn't take well and we have a problem with the geese in the summer," Kroetch said.

Portable restrooms will be placed at the site for the summer. Construction on the permanent restrooms is expected to start this fall.

"We'll start on restrooms, park benches and picnic shelter as soon as Labor Day is over," Kroetch said.

He said there has been a lot of early interest in utilizing the park.

"People have asked about it for weddings, but we're just not quite there yet," he said.

In August, a remote-controlled boat exhibition is planned for the site.

"We expect that will draw about 100 people," Kroetch said.

In addition to offering rentals at the park, swimming lessons are envisioned.

Kroetch said improving parks has been a focus for the city because it gives locals opportunities and helps draw tourists to the lake community.

"We want to create a neat, quaint town for people to bring their families to," he said.

The historic Fireside Lodge was torn down earlier this year to make way for the park.

The three-story, 6,000-square-foot lodge was built in 1907 and was the former Panhandle Lumber Company office. It was moved to the property from a nearby location in 1945.

Rod and Nancy Erickson acquired the building in 1989 and ran a bed and breakfast, gift shop, restaurant and RV park. They own a cabin next to the site. The urban renewal agency bought the lodge property from the Ericksons for $500,000.

The hurdles, city officials said, were that a site couldn't be found to move it to, and no one had the funds to move it.

The park itself is also being funded through the urban renewal agency.

The $50,000 first phase included demolition of the lodge, site preparation, removal of some trees that suffered from disease, a sprinkler system, privacy fence for the neighbors and a 22-stall parking lot.

An additional $100,000 will be generated with urban renewal funding to complete the park.

• Raffle to benefit new park

A raffle fundraiser is being held to benefit the construction of Fireside Park in Spirit Lake. Prizes include a utility task vehicle (UTV), mountain bikes, a pedal boat, fishing and beach packages, swimming lessons, gift certificates to area businesses and more. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. They are on sale at Miller's Grocery, the Parkside sports bar and Linger Longer bar. A total of 5,000 tickets will be available to purchase through Sept. 1. The raffle will be held during Labor Day weekend. Information: 623-2131

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