Council decides to give land back to Schoenberg

Hungry Horse News

It may have been a park at one time. But it isn't anymore.

An idyllic hillside with a great view of Columbia Mountain went from city ownership to private ownership Monday, as the city Council voted to give Schoenberg Park back to heir Jack Schoenberg.

Councilmember Jolie Fish abstained and Harvey Reikofski voted against the measure.

Under the deal, the city will give Schoenberg back 10 city lots and Schoenberg will agree to buy a single city lot at fair market value that the city now owns, but will become far less valuable once Schoenberg takes title to the land.

Schoenberg maintained the city hadn't used the land as a park in decades, which violated the terms of the original deed, which said the city could have the land as long as it was used and maintained as a park.

Schoenberg is the lone heir to the estate of L.A. and Mary Schoenberg. Back in April of 1949, the two gave the city 10 city lots to establish a skating rink and park at the top of what many locals children call "killer hill," because it's used for sledding in the winter.

The skating rink went by the wayside sometime in the 1980s.

There hasn't been a park there in decades. Today it's just a neatly trimmed area on top of the hill.

Schoenberg uncle, Sam Ellman, who represented Schoenberg interests at city council meetings, said his nephew noticed the park wasn't being used when he returned home for his mother's funeral last winter.

Schoenberg is retired from the military. The parcels will likely be divided and homes will be built on at least some of the property. The rest of the property would be difficult to develop - it goes almost straight downhill.

Reikofski said he voted against the measure because he didn't feel it was right to give away a city asset.