Work clears way for new lakefront park

West Shore News

Demolition work began last week in the process of developing the new lake front park north of the Adams Street public dock in Lakeside.

The unoccupied log house located at 608 Lakeside Blvd. was demolished Friday by Smith Excavating of Lakeside.

Work on preparing the site for the new park will continue through the next year, with an expected completion date of fall 2010.

Several buildings will be moved to other locations. Habitat for Humanity and others will salvage fixtures and construction materials from those that cannot be moved.

The park, a project taken on by residents Margaret Davis and Bruce Ennis, is meant to provide a swimming area as well as public parking.

The couple purchased several parcels between Adams Street and U.S. Highway 93, including most recently the Bayshore Motel.

The couple started the venture to address what they saw as an unsafe situation where children were swimming near the boat ramp because they did not have another public place nearby to swim, Davis said.

The lakefront provided by Davis and Ennis along with that owned by Flathead County will provide roughly 190 feet of lake frontage for the park, and roughly the same amount along Highway 93.

Davis and Ennis intend to develop the property and then turn it over to the county to make it a public facility.

The Lakeside QRU is spearheading the sale of the former Mattson Realty office, located at 7215 Highway 93, from the new park area.

Proceeds from the building will go to the QRU and park fund.

The 1,200-square-foot building with a 20 by 40 foot footprint is considered to be sturdy and suitable for moving.

Interested parties may call 844-2775 for more information.