COEUR d’ALENE — The McEuen K27 Memorial Water Feature is in its final phases of fundraising, and construction drawings for Phase 1 are nearly complete.

Tracy Meyers, executive director of the Panhandle Parks Foundation, said she expects the estimated $300,000 cost of Phase 1 to be reduced thanks to in-kind services and project donations. One recent gift of $15,000 was donated by Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty.

However, donations are still needed as the project approaches construction. The total cost is expected to be around $750,000.

"[For Phase 1] we have one-fourth secured, over one-half pledged, with about one-fourth left to raise," said Meyers, whose foundation is managing the project. "All funding is coming from donations, fundraisers and grants — no tax dollars will be used."

Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer confirmed Thursday the memorial, which will honor Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Greg Moore and other fallen officers, should break ground sometime in May.

"We are tremendously grateful for all that have contributed, including a gift of $15,000 from Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty and their agents," Widmyer said. "This memorial is very important in that it shows that we will always honor and remember the ultimate sacrifice that Sgt. Moore gave in protecting our community."

Widmyer launched the fundraising campaign last May after Coeur d'Alene City Council approved the project. The water feature will include cascading waterfalls — Respect Falls, Honor Falls and Remember Falls — that will flow into a creek named "Thin Blue Line."

The main basin will be a 90-by-20-foot wide rectangle with the falls in the center. Eight benches and a bench swing will be installed around the memorial. It will be located just south of the Fourth Street "Under the Rainbow" entrance.

"(It will) be using an area that's an unused grassy knoll portion of McEuen," Meyers said. "It's going to be a great use of that area to invite people to come in, spend some time and really enjoy the area and take time to memorialize on it as well."

To help fundraising efforts, the Panhandle Parks Foundation will have a table May 4 in the plaza near Bakery By the Lake, 601 E. Front Ave. in Coeur d'Alene, where people can drop by and make financial contributions. This will be in conjunction with Idaho Gives, a day to celebrate nonprofits and give back to the community.

On May 5, the two-year anniversary of Moore's death, the foundation will be asking local businesses to donate a portion of their profits to the K27 Memorial Water Feature project. Businesses interested in supporting the memorial and participating that day should contact Meyers at 446-4813.

"The Panhandle Parks Foundation board and staff are so appreciative of all of those individuals who risk their lives for all of us every day to keep our community and parks safe," Meyers said. "We are honored to be a part of this project that will 'respect,' 'honor' and 'remember' all of those individuals."

The memorial will be split into three phases; Phase 1 is expected to be complete this fall, and dates for phases 2 and 3 have not yet been released.

Anyone wishing to be a part of the memorial can do so by sending a tax-deductible donation to: Panhandle Parks Foundation/K27 Memorial, 212 Ironwood Drive, Ste. D, PMB #124, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

For information or to donate, contact Meyers at panhandleparks@gmail.com or visit www.panhandleparksfoundation.org.