Keith Locke wants to use Columbia View Park for the Chambers new Convention Center site.   Evidently he does not have much use for parks.  His idea seems to have caught on at City Hall with many thinking it would be a brilliant place for the Chamber to build.

Keith Locke wrote: (See Locke Article)
"I have been doing research on the possibility for using the Columbia View Park as a site for the building. The building would take 20% of the park and park already has all the amenities we need. The Park now is only utilized 2 or 3 days out of the year as it is and the building would only add to the needs on those days. Sitting inside to watch the Fireworks? elderly and as a fund raiser? Would be a great spot and fill our needs.

I know that it might seem strange, but no one on the committee has taken the time to check with City Parks.  If they would have taken the time to check with Parks they would have found out that it is used more than 2 or 3 times a year.  I spoke with the park people and I was told that the park is used almost every day of the year.

I questioned this. I said, "Do you mean to say that it is used on rainy winter days?"

I was told "Even on the bad days, people will utilize the gazebo".  The park is used continually by people utilizing the boat dock, visiting the courthouse, or just looking for a place to eat lunch or sit and look at the river.  Last year it was reserved for use 26 times (a bit more than the 2 or 3 times mentioned by Locke).  The number of people using the park during these "special days" was well into the 1000's.  Not bad for a park that no one seems to use.

No one on the Committee has really bothered to see how much of the Park will be occupied by the proposed building.   Keith said 20%.  Evidently he must have pulled this figure out of the air, because a Geotech Engineering Firm was recently hired to measure the area.   Their findings are that this building will take up 40-45% of the park.    Their measurements were for the actual area of the building, and do not include any concrete walk space. 

The Geotech Firm will also be digging holes in the park to determine foundation suitability.  Hopefully no one will fall into them, since the City can hardly afford any more law suits.

Right now they are considering two sites.  Columbia View, and McCormick Park. Columbia View seems to be the favored choice for the moment, since McCormick might involve more earth moving.

Parking is also a problem with this site, but Keith seems to think that he might be able to get Boise to move their log yard for them.  This is not a bad idea, since this land was "given" to them by the public years ago.  Boise is a good corporate citizen, and may not want money for their land, then again they may expect some sort of payment.  If they are willing to give up land for parking, why would they not be willing to give up land to build a Conference Center, instead of our sacrificing a park?

What can you do about all of this?

You can talk to your Council Critters.  You can call them- see this link.
You can send them email
You can call the Chamber.
You can write letters to the editor.
You can telephone the KOHI Call-in show
   (KOHI Call in is on Friday's from 9:00--10:00 AM).
You can call Boise Cascade
You can consider the possibility about working for a recall of the Hotel Motel Tax that is supposed to pay for this.
You might consider recalling our City Council People. 

The one thing that you should NOT do is keep quiet.  Remember, your apathy is their strength.