Specialized Needs Recreation plans 20,000-square-foot Building Belonging facility

Specialized Needs Recreation announced plans to build a 20,000-square-foot Building Belonging facility to replace its current 2,000-square-foot space, which Executive Director Lindsay Patterson said no longer meets demand. “We need more space, we are bursting at the seams,” Patterson said, framing the project as a response to growing community need for therapeutic recreation for individuals with disabilities.

The proposed center, estimated to cost $3.5 million to $5 million, is designed to complement existing activity at Cherry Hill and would sit on a city-owned 15th Street property under a lease framework. The Parks and Recreation Department has already passed a memorandum of understanding to allow SNR to lease that property, and Patterson is scheduled to introduce the MOU to the Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday to provide a formal framework for the project.

Patterson described the Building Belonging project as a “permanent, inclusive, year-round indoor space” that will expand programming capacity and community access: “Our Building Belonging project proposes a 20,000 square-foot facility designed to complement the existing use of Cherry Hill while meeting the growing needs of our community, creating a permanent, inclusive, year-round indoor space where partnership delivers lasting impact for generations.” The nonprofit also envisions a shared-use model with Parks and Rec: “This facility will also open up indoor recreation space for the community, including Parks and Rec. We’ll run our program during the day, and they can use the facility in the evening,” Patterson said.

SNR reports strong early fundraising momentum, with 59 founding members and “early champions who have stepped forward with leadership gifts and multi-year commitments.” Patterson expressed confidence the campaign can secure the necessary funds and complete construction within three years. SNR Board Member Suzanne Knutson also expressed confidence in the project.

For Kootenai County residents, the proposal could expand access to year-round therapeutic recreation and reduce pressure on existing community facilities during winter months. A larger indoor space would allow SNR to serve more participants, provide more consistent programming, and relieve scheduling conflicts that currently constrain both disability-focused programs and general Parks and Rec activities at Cherry Hill.

Several key steps remain before construction can begin. City Council consideration of the MOU will shape lease terms and next steps, and SNR will need to convert community commitments into firm funding, secure permits, and finalize site plans for the 15th Street property. The project’s estimated $3.5 million to $5 million price tag and three-year completion goal set targets for donors, city officials, and residents invested in expanding inclusive recreation.

If the council approves the framework and fundraising proceeds as planned, Coeur d’Alene could add a major new community asset that centers disability access while increasing evening hours for Parks and Rec programming. The council presentation and the nonprofit’s fundraising progress will determine whether Building Belonging moves from plan to construction.