After decades of planning, countless studies, repeated revisions and spirited public discussion, a reconstructed downtown Coeur d'Alene centerpiece—McEuen Park—will become a reality in just hours.

The eastern section of the park will open Friday by noon and the anticipation levels are rising. The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association (CDA) has been fielding calls, the media has been providing nearly daily coverage, and students from Sorenson Elementary School near downtown have planned a special trip to the expansive playground on opening day.

“The school adapted their recess/lunchtime schedule for the kids to attend the grand opening,” said Laura Rumpler, director of communications for the Coeur d’Alene School District. “With Sorensen’s strong connections to the downtown community, this is a momentous occasion of community involvement that the school wanted to be part of.”

Terry Cooper, manager of the downtown association, said he expects a busy day at the park, and in the city center.

“We been answering lots of phone calls from a variety of different businesses and citizens with questions about the park and all the attractions that will be open to the public,” he said. “The weather looks great so everybody’s excited to come down and have some fun.”

Crews from the city’s street department will begin removing fence from the east side of the park near City Hall at 5:30 a.m., said street superintendent Tim Martin. They will be joined by parks department staff at 6 a.m. Contractors Northwest Inc., the general contractor, will be on site at 7 a.m. to remove fence.

Martin said he expects his crews to finish taking down the 300-yard section of fence they’ve been assigned to by 8:30 a.m.  However, with a large perimeter of fencing around the eastern part of the park, the last section will probably not come down until a few hours later.

The public will have access to the playground, tennis/pickle ball court, basketball court, dog park and the family restroom facilities in the pavilion. The splash pad is complete, but water will not be turned on until later this spring.

Work is also progressing rapidly on the west end of the park, which should open by Memorial Day weekend. That section includes the Pavilion, Harbor House, Grand Plaza, Sea Wall Overlook, and 4.5-acre grassy events/play area.