County park plan ready for public comments
The new Flathead County Parks and Recreation Master Plan is ready for prime time and undergoes its first public hearing Wednesday before the Planning Board.
The master plan was initiated last year by the county Park Board and Parks & Recreation Department.
It considers myriad possibilities for future park development and sets the framework for decision-making regarding not only park development and land acquisition but also recreation programming and partnerships.
The Flathead County Growth Policy recommended that a detailed parks and recreation master plan be adopted as an appendix to the growth policy.
The plan points out the need for ongoing funding to support the county's parks and recreation program and suggests establishing a park land acquisition fund with revenue from cash-in-lieu of dedicated land from developers, impact fees (if implemented), grants, fundraising and donations.
Finding more gymnasium space is another pressing need, the plan notes. It suggests a portion of the cash-in-lieu revenue could be used to leverage money for the construction of a gym.
Once a feasibility study is completed, capital costs of a rec center/gym could be funded through a financial package that combines a variety of funding sources.
The plan outlines 18 steps in its action plan, including the creation of a sports advisory committee and separate advisory groups for Columbia Falls and Kila.
Other recommendations include:
n Complete and adopt a trails master plan.
n Establish a volunteer program and an adopt-a-park/trail program.
n Work with community groups to establish a park foundation or fund for charitable donations.
n Develop an online scheduling/reservation system for use of park facilities and sports fields.
n Evaluate user fees and revise according to policies in the plan.
As part of the master plan process, a survey was conducted to gauge public opinion about county parks.
Nearly 60 percent of the respondents said the county should focus its efforts on acquiring land for future parks.
About 45 percent said they would support a countywide tax measure to maintain and improve existing parks and acquire more land and develop more trails.
The plan can be found online at http://flathead.mt.gov/parks_rec/master_plan.php
Also on Wednesday's Planning Board agenda is a review of large tract rural zoning.
The board meets at 6 p.m. in the second-floor conference room of the Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W. in Kalispell.