Friday, May 09, 2025
36.0°F

This 'Frying Pan' needs a lid

DEVIN WEEKS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 1 month AGO
by DEVIN WEEKS
Devin Weeks is a third-generation North Idaho resident. She holds an associate degree in journalism from North Idaho College and a bachelor's in communication arts from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. Devin embarked on her journalism career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in 2013. She worked weekends for several years, covering a wide variety of events and issues throughout Kootenai County. Devin now mainly covers K-12 education and the city of Post Falls. She enjoys delivering daily chuckles through the Ghastly Groaner and loves highlighting local people in the Fast Five segment that runs in CoeurVoice. Devin lives in Post Falls with her husband and their three eccentric and very needy cats. | March 15, 2021 1:08 AM

When bands perform under the summer sun on the stage in Riverstone, boy, do they get cookin'.

Like, literally. That's why they nicknamed the stage "Frying Pan."

"It gets really hot because it's all concrete and the sun is just glaring down on you," said Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance executive director Ali Shute.

Shute is spearheading the "Raise the Cover for Riverstone" campaign to pop a lid on that Frying Pan and provide a shade structure for musicians and audience members who enjoy the free annual Riverstone Summer Concert Series, presented by the Arts and Culture Alliance.

She said she expects the project to cost between $85,000 and $100,000.

"This will provide protection from light weather, a light drizzly rain that's only going to last for a few minutes," Shute said. "But it's mostly about the shade."

The shade structure will be engineered and materials provided by Play Creations, a landscape structure company in Burien, Wash.

The base structure posts will be up all year. Synthetic mesh fabric sails will go up in the spring and be stored in the fall.

"When that park was designed, it was always thought that would be a good location for those sails. We just ran out of funding," Coeur d'Alene Parks and Recreation director Bill Greenwood said.

Greenwood said the sails are expected to last seven to 10 years as they withstand seasonal heat and wind. They'll provide protection from UV rays as well, he said.

Along with protecting performers, instruments, equipment and audiences, the shade structure will be for the enjoyment and comfort of all who use the stage.

"This amenity is helpful for the community and can be used by anybody, for weddings, birthday parties," Greenwood said. "It's a community boon for everybody."

Shute said use of an open-air venue like the Riverstone stage is more important than ever in the era of a pandemic.

"We need to create outdoor spaces where we can enjoy entertainment and arts activities because of COVID and what we’ve learned as a result of COVID," she said.

Sponsored in part by Idaho Central Credit Union, the stage will be called the "Idaho Central Credit Union Amphitheater in Riverstone." ICCU has already contributed $40,000 and private donors have thrown in $11,000.

A presentation for possible funding made to Coeur d'Alene's urban renewal agency, ignite cda, during an upcoming meeting.

"We are really hoping they’ll kick in a good portion," Shute said. "We just need a little bit more."

Visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/raise-the-cover-for-riverstone to view the GoFundMe page.

photo

Courtesy image

This rendering shows what shade sails will look like over the Riverstone stage, which is called the "Frying Pan" because of how hot it gets in the summer. This project is expected to cost $85,000 to $100,000 and will be an amenity for the community to use once completed.

photo

Courtesy image

The Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance is working on raising up to $100,000 to provide a cover for the stage in Riverstone.

MORE FRONT-PAGE-SLIDER STORIES

Come sail away to shade at Riverstone
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 2 years, 3 months ago
Council awards Riverstone Amphitheater naming rights to ICCU
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 4 years ago
How cool is that?
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 2 years, 1 month ago

ARTICLES BY DEVIN WEEKS

River City Middle Schoolers practice peer support through leadership program
May 8, 2025 1:06 a.m.

River City Middle Schoolers practice peer support through leadership program

River City Middle Schoolers practice peer support through leadership program

A hike in the woods, a deep breath, reading a favorite book. These are just a few stress-relieving activities River City Middle School Titan Leadership Team members recommended Wednesday morning as they visited different classrooms to engage with their peers.

Cowboy Ball brings in over $100K for North Idaho fair foundation
May 8, 2025 1:05 a.m.

Cowboy Ball brings in over $100K for North Idaho fair foundation

Heels were kicked up, hats were tipped and generosity was abundant April 18 during the 14th annual Cowboy Ball, which raised over $100,000 for the nonprofit North Idaho Fair and Rodeo Foundation.

Lakes Middle School eighth graders explore Civil War through demonstrations
May 7, 2025 1:08 a.m.

Lakes Middle School eighth graders explore Civil War through demonstrations

Lakes Middle School eighth graders explore Civil War through demonstrations

Reel dancing was a fine way to spend time in 1800s America. It was popular again Monday during an American Civil War reenactment at Lakes Middle School, where students lined up, faced each other and galloped two-by-two along the rows, dipping and diving through arm arches and clapping along as they gave the Boston Tea Party dance a whirl. “I love the hands-on," eighth grader Jonathan Mohr said. "It’s a lot more educational in my opinion."