Lindsay Patterson, representative of Specialized Needs Recreation, told the Coeur d'Alene Parks and Recreation Commission on Dec. 15 that the nonprofit has outgrown its 2,000-square-foot center and recorded 5,897 participant visits last year.

"You belong. You matter. You are strong," Patterson said as she described programs that serve children and adults with disabilities and called a permanent facility essential to improve safety, accessibility and program capacity.

Chris Shelton, a member of SNR’s building committee, estimated the organization needs roughly 20,000 square feet, including indoor courts, program rooms, a large kitchen and a sensory room. Shelton said consolidating activities into a single building with an adjacent outdoor court would be more cost-effective than several scattered structures.

Bill (city staff) told commissioners the city has identified a potential site: the Cherry Hill parcel on 15th Street, the former “Field of Dreams” property the city bought from the Eagles. Bill said the location offers level areas and visibility near existing park infrastructure, and that more detailed construction and site plans would return to the commission and City Council for formal approvals.

Board member Suzanne Knudson said SNR receives no state or federal operating funding and relies on local fundraising, private grants and donation campaigns. Knudson reported limited grant opportunities for disability services and said SNR is broadening its grant searches to include recreation-focused funds.

Knudson and other SNR representatives also described participants’ transportation needs. She said on a recent day 2 of 18 participants used paratransit, and that SNR typically has about 10–12 regular paratransit riders plus more who use the fixed-route CityLink service; SNR noted CityLink does not run past 6 p.m., which constrains evening programming.

Patterson said the organization is launching a "Building Belonging" fundraising campaign and that an MOU to support the fundraising phase and clarify a city–SNR partnership is forthcoming. Patterson and Shelton asked the city to consider the Cherry Hill parcel as a shared-use community asset where Parks & Recreation could use indoor space in evenings and weekends.

The commission did not take formal action on the presentation. SNR agreed to provide CityLink usage data to commissioners and will return with more detailed site plans and the proposed MOU.

What’s next: SNR will continue planning and fundraising and will provide requested transit-usage figures; staff said the MOU and any capital approvals will be considered in future commission and council meetings.