Parks commission recommends adding Cherry Hill and Rotary parks to city alcohol‑permit code

The Coeur d'Alene Parks and Recreation Commission voted May 18 to recommend that the City Council add Coeur d'Alene Rotary Centennial Park and Cherry Hill Park to Municipal Code 4.250.03, allowing possession and consumption of beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages at permitted events.

The recommendation — made by Commissioner McDowell and seconded by Commissioner Tadeost — follows a staff review that included consultations with police, fire and the city attorney, and a summary of the code's existing permit and security procedures. Chair (unnamed in the transcript) said adding the two parks "causes no increased cost to the city" because alcohol permit and security fees would offset staff and security expenses.

Why it matters: the change would extend an exception already in place for Riverstone Park, City Park, McEwen Park and the Jewett House to two additional public sites used for small fundraisers, tournaments and community events. Park staff said the Inland Northwest Pickleball Club has requested permission to have a local brewery sponsor an annual Cherry Hill tournament, and local Rotary events use the downtown Rotary Centennial Park.

Staff described how permitted alcohol events would be managed. "It will be roped off or fenced off," said Adam Kuriko, the city's building maintenance superintendent, describing the temporary enclosure and security arrangements staff plan for permitted events. Kuriko said police asked for clarity on fencing and monitoring; staff indicated they generally expect to use delineators, portable fencing or chain barriers to create a beer-garden area within the park and to schedule security through the department's contracted firm.

Commissioners and members of the public asked how children would be kept out of alcohol service areas. A resident asked, "For the Rotary Park and Cherry Hill, will kids be allowed inside during these events?" Kuriko replied that operators could either close the whole site and make it 21-and-over or cordon off just the alcohol service area so children may remain in non‑alcohol zones: "Kids could be in the park as long as it's not inside that space."

The motion passed after an 'aye' vote with one abstention. Commissioner Wood said he would abstain because he wanted to "debate it with counsel" before the council-level discussion. The commission recorded no 'no' votes in the transcript.

Next steps: the commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration; if council approves the code change, permit applications and security scheduling would follow the parks department's existing procedures for alcohol events.