Missoula, MT – Missoula County is set to receive a $90,000 boost in funding to enhance parks, trails, and open spaces throughout its rural areas. Five local projects in Lolo, Bonner, Seeley Lake, and Clinton will benefit from this grant, aimed at improving accessibility and providing recreational opportunities to the community.
Bethany Gunther, Missoula County’s Parks and Trails Specialist, emphasized the importance of expanding access to these spaces. “The greater reach that we can get around Missoula County, the better,” Gunther said. “Giving local kids, families, just a healthy outlet within the community, within walking distance, is vital.”
A portion of the funds, $15,000, is directed to the Five Valleys Land Trust to improve accessibility in the Rock Creek area. According to Jenny Tollefson, the Trust’s Stewardship Director, the focus is on creating a network of universal trails. “These trails will be natural surfaces, not paved, but designed to accommodate a wide range of people, including those who use wheelchairs,” Tollefson explained. Additionally, through a partnership with Summit Independent Living, the project will provide accessible interpretive materials. Instead of using Braille, the signage will feature audio-based information, aimed at assisting those who are blind or have low vision.
In Clinton, $20,000 will be used to build a new picnic pavilion at the Clinton Community Park. This pavilion will provide a space for relaxation next to the recently opened skate park. PTA President Annie Bahm highlighted the importance of these upgrades for the local community. “We are hoping to put in an updated structure that’s ADA accessible,” Bahm said, noting that the current playground equipment, some of which dates back to the 1980s, is in need of replacement. “There’s 350 kids, and this is the only playground,” she added. Bahm believes these improvements will make the park a hub for families to meet and enjoy the outdoors together.
Meanwhile, in Lolo, $10,530 will go toward creating a public winter ice skating rink at West View Park. The Lolo Community Council is eager to provide a space for winter recreation, offering a fun, family-friendly activity for locals.
In Seeley Lake, Scenic Montana Trails will use part of the grant to develop a new 28-mile trail system for mountain biking and other multi-use activities. The initial funding will support the surveying and alignment of the first 7.4 miles of the trail, which will be located near the Seeley Creek Nordic Ski Area. According to Gunther, the new trail system is expected to boost outdoor recreation opportunities in the area.
These investments aim to improve the quality of life for residents in Missoula County by creating accessible, well-developed outdoor spaces. Gunther summarized the intent behind the funding, saying, “These projects will help create lasting recreational spaces that are inclusive and provide a healthy outlet for all members of the community.”
