Adoption of carousel ponies, panel art now available

COEUR d'ALENE — The Coeur d'Alene Carousel Foundation is making its final push this month to take full advantage of a matching offer on donations.

In early October, the Coeur d'Alene City Council approved a property lease agreement so the foundation could establish the original Playland Pier Carousel near the Memorial Field grandstand. Since then, the foundation has been fundraising.

Local businessman Bud Ford has offered up to $500,000 in a dollar-for-dollar match on donations. That offer extends through the end of this month. Fundraising by the foundation will continue after the match deadline.

It will take approximately $475,000 to construct the building that will house the carousel and fund the required $60,000 endowment.

Rita Sims-Snyder, the nonprofit foundation's spokeswoman, said the group is seeking to finish strong by offering the public a chance to adopt the carousel's ponies and the hand-painted art panels. The public also has the opportunity to purchase permanent, etched floor tiles that will be inside the building.

"It's only been about six weeks since our location was approved," Sims-Snyder said Friday. "We really couldn't even begin formulating fundraising plans until we knew we had a location."

There are 20 ponies and two chariots available for adoption and naming. Prices for the ponies are $15,000 or $10,000.

There are a dozen interior art panels available for adoption, and a dozen exterior rounding board art panels available.

"They're amazing pictures of our history and our culture and our past in Coeur d'Alene," Sims-Snyder said.

The adoption of the ponies and art panels would be good for at least five years, she said.

There will be three sizes available for the etched floor tiles. The prices are $250, $500 or $1,000. Those are permanent, she said.

"We need to have a final push to possibly take better advantage of Mr. Ford's generous offer," she said. "We're getting lots of donations, but we're getting lots of little donations."

The carousel is currently in storage in Coeur d'Alene awaiting its new home next to Memorial Field.

Information or donations: Rita Sims-Snyder at (208) 660-5389, or Cari Fraser at (208) 659-1831, or email friends@cdacarousel.org.