Land donation adds 50 acres to Herron Park

Herron Park keeps growing as the Flathead County commissioners last week accepted a donation of 50 acres of land.

The gift from the nonprofit group Foy’s to Blacktail Trails was boosted by a contribution from the Flathead Land Trust. The newly added land is part of a multiphase addition to the park that will ultimately become a community forest and allow for a permanent trail to Blacktail Mountain, according to a news release from Foy’s to Blacktail Trails.

“Flathead Land Trust is pleased to support the hard work of Foy’s to Blacktail Trails by providing grant funds to complete this park addition and ensure permanent access for all of us and future generations,” said Marilyn Wood, executive director of the land trust.

The new land will help match a recent grant of $400,000 from the U.S. Forest Service Community Forest Program to buy additional acreage later this year.

“This project is a fine example of a private/public partnership that will benefit future generations of county residents,” Flathead County Parks Director Jed Fisher said. “It’s our most popular year-round park and gets a lot of use by hikers, horseback riders, mountain bike riders and dog walkers.”

Foy’s to Blacktail Trails board chairman Clifford Kipp pointed out, “Our work is not done — we still need to raise over $400,000 to acquire the final phases. Donations from local individuals and businesses will be the key to success."

Foy’s to Blacktail Trails is a volunteer-driven nonprofit focused on securing historic access to trails and lands connecting the Foy’s Lake area to the forest lands at Blacktail Mountain.

For more information, visit FoysToBlacktailTrails.org.