By KEITH ERICKSON

Press Correspondent

A new waterfront park just west of Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone development will begin taking shape later this year as crews start work on shoreline stabilization.

Expected to be built next summer, the park will include a public beach, playground, water dog park, kayak launch, restroom and green space on about 4 acres on the Spokane River.

Preliminarily called Atlas Park, the project will go to bid Oct. 1 and is expected to cost around $6 million, said Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation Director Bill Greenwood. It is being financed by the city’s urban renewal agency, ignite cda.

“In all the public surveys we’ve done, there’s been high interest in a waterfront park with open space, access to the water, trail connectivity and a water dog park,” Greenwood said. “This park has all that.”

The park, which will also include several spots for food trucks and 120 parking spaces, abuts the popular Prairie Trail that runs along Riverstone.

Greenwood said officials would also like to include public docks with space available to lease to rental companies for water activities, but that will depend on available funding.

Atlas Park is part of the former 47-acre Atlas mill site between the Spokane River and Seltice Way, which the city bought earlier this year for $7.85 million.

Christie Wood, a member of the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, said the park will be an invaluable addition to the city’s public open space.

“They’re not making any more riverfront,” Wood said. “I’m really excited about the handicapped accessibility features that will allow everybody to get into the water.”

In a separate project connected to Atlas Park, the city is moving forward with public improvements along the Prairie Trail at Riverstone Park.

The City Council this week approved a memorandum of understanding with the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation for improvements, including a bypass trail, parking for about 40 vehicles, public green space and transcontinental railroad memorial.

The memo allows the foundation to begin fundraising efforts for the project, which will provide a more attractive entrance to Riverstone Park, Greenwood said.

“The park is extremely popular and this project accomplishes what we had envisioned some years ago,” Greenwood said.