The current Sherman Square Park location was home to F. W. Woolworth which burned down in 1980. The building was razed and the lot sat vacant until 1986. In 1986, Don and Bob Johnson, along with Tom Robb, approached the lot’s owners, the Sheetz family, and asked if they would be interested in allowing these local philanthropists to build a park at the site. The family liked the idea of a park and Don Johnson was off and running to develop what is now known as Sherman Square Park.

The Coeur d Alene Rotary Club was looking for a centennial project to commemorate its 100 years as a Club and proposed to redevelop and upgrade the Sherman Square Park with a funding partnership with ignite CDA. Under this proposal, ignite would purchase the Park from the Sheetz family and the Park would be improved with funds from ignite and the Club.