Sam Bibler Commemorative Trail moving forward
Interlocal agreements signed recently by the Flathead County commissioners and city of Kalispell have given momentum to the first major leg of the Sam Bibler Commemorative Trail.
The one-mile stretch along Willow Glen Drive - between FFA Drive and the intersection of the Woodland connector trail at Woodland Avenue - is on track for construction next spring.
The county is using its federal allocation of Community Transportation Enhancement Program money to design and construct the segment, estimated at $210,000. The nonprofit Sam Bibler Commemorative Trails Project group would contribute an estimated $20,000, and the city of Kalispell would chip in about $10,000 in earmarked developer funds from projects at The Willows, Leisure Heights and Kalispell Toyota.
"The commissioners feel like this is a good project," County Administrative Officer Mike Pence said. "It's a win-win approach."
The city owns nearly half of the trail alignment along the mile stretch of Willow Glen, Kalispell Parks and Recreation Director Mike Baker said. In the agreement between the city and county, the county will design and build the trail to city standards and the city will inherit maintenance of the section after it's built.
MEANWHILE, the city of Kalispell opened bids on Thursday for the remaining 3/4 mile of the Woodland connector trail. Bids came in below the engineer's estimate, Baker said, but he declined to give specifics until the City Council approves the bid on Sept. 8. He hopes to see the 45-day construction project begin the end of September.
The newest segment of the Woodland trail - part of the city's trail network and the Bibler trail route - will begin at the top of the hill at Sylvan Drive on Woodland Avenue and heads south along the hillside, coming out on Willow Glen along the creek. A quarter-mile of the Woodland trail, starting at Conrad Mansion, already has been built.
The forthcoming trail projects are tangible results for the Sam Bibler Commemorative Trails Project supporters, who have been raising money through their nonprofit entity for several years.
"Willow Glen and Woodland are mature communities living the kind of lifestyles they want. This trail is the dressing at the end of the day. It's an amenity," trail supporter Allen Sieler said. "Seeing the city and county working together is nice."
All together, the commemorative trail project would cover about eight miles, honoring the civic work of the late Louis "Sam" Bibler, who fought to preserve Conrad Mansion, helped raise money to improve Woodland Park and made contributions to many other projects. Bibler died in 2002 at the age of 86.
As envisioned, the completed trail would run from Lower Valley Road north along Willow Glen to Conrad Drive. There would be an eastern spur along Conrad to Shady Lane and Montana 35, in addition to a loop west to Woodland Park, south along Woodland Avenue and back to Willow Glen.
Terry Welder, another key supporter of the project, pointed to the enhanced safety the trail will bring to Willow Glen, a key connector and route to three local schools - Kalispell Montessori Center, Stillwater Christian School and the Flathead High School Vo-Ag program.
"We've pushed safety a lot," Welder said.
The Sam Bibler Commemorative Trails Project is a 502 (c) (3) tax-exempt corporation. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 515, Kalispell, MT 59903.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com