On the path to parks improvements
Some participants in Kalispell meeting foresee interconnected trails, open spaces and bikeways
Bike paths. Trails. Long narrow parks. All of these connecting Kalispell's main parks, the Flathead River, the bigger creeks and community gathering spots.
That was the most popular concept to emerge from a Tuesday brainstorming session on how to improve Kalispell's parks and recreation programs during the next several years.
About 15 residents and a half-dozen parks employees participated in the session at City Hall. Portland consulting firm Moore Iacofano Goltsman Inc. coordinated the brainstorming session and is helping the Parks and Recreation Department map out a long-range improvement plan.
The planning effort should produce a written outline of Kalispell's parks and recreational needs and priorities by May, parks Director Mike Baker said. A master plan should be ready by September to guide improvements during the next several years.
Public input into this planning will be drawn from Tuesday's session, a recent phone survey and more efforts by board members to get comments.
The consultants still are studying draft results from a phone survey that showed: n Out of 62 people responding, 22.6 percent used parks for sports; 19.9 percent used parks to meet friends; 17.7 percent used parks to enjoy nature; and small percentages used parks for picnics and family gatherings.
. Out of 55 people responding, 21.8 percent thought the parks needed better access to rivers for boating and swimming; 16.4 percent wanted more entertainment activities such as movies and bowling; and small percentages wanted more gyms, trails, educational activities and special events.
. Out of 57 people responding, 19.3 percent thought parks should provide Kalispell youths with drop-in and hanging-out types of activities; 17.5 percent thought parks should offers youths more concerts, festivals and dances; 14 percent thought parks should provide youths with extreme sports and aquatic activities; and small percentages thought job-related activities and more sports are needed.
At Tuesday's session, between 30 and 40 suggestions for improvements were made.
However, more trails, paths and long connecting parks - all weaving together other parks and activities - were the overwhelmingly favorite recommendations.
Creating more open spaces in town and setting up a performing-arts center were the next most-popular suggestions. Other suggested priorities included setting up facilities for teens, seniors and indoor athletics and buying more land for parks. Several suggestions favored creating more ice-skating opportunities.
People at Tuesday's session generally thought the parks have been kept in good condition. However, the upkeep of Dry Bridge City Park and some tennis courts were criticized.