'Tremendous effort' leads to parks plan
The Flathead County Parks and Recreation Master Plan is a done deal.
The county commissioners last week adopted a final resolution for the document that now becomes an appendix to the growth policy.
Commissioners Dale Lauman and Jim Dupont said they believe the plan fits the needs and wishes of county residents. Commissioner Joe Brenneman was absent.
The plan provides a framework for decisions on park development, land acquisition, recreation programming and partnerships. A separate trails master plan will be forthcoming.
With five workshops held valleywide, a public-opinion survey and 426 written comments, the plan was thoroughly vetted.
County Park Board member Jim Watson told the Planning Board last month that “this plan sits on a very firm foundation.”
Ron Buentemeier, former general manager of F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co., had the last word on the document, saying it was “a tremendous effort by everyone.”
Acknowledging the county’s limited resources for park development, the plan encourages expanded use of public-private partnerships that have been used on projects such as the Foys to Blacktail Trail project, Herron Park and the Conrad Complex.
Among the recommendations for engaging citizen volunteers at county parks, the plan recommends the county explore the development of a memorandum of understanding for programs such as adopt-a-park/trail for community groups that want to undertake such efforts.
Currently, liability issues preclude the county from being able to use private volunteers for park maintenance.
Buentemeier said it behooves the commissioners to push for state legislation that would allow volunteer help within the county park system.
“I believe for a successful parks and recreation program, you need volunteers and there are people out there who want to do it,” he said.
The plan also recommends exploring the creation of a nonprofit organization to support parks, recreation and trails through fundraising, grant writing and volunteer development.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com