Hospital adds park-like area on U.S. 93
<p><strong>Work has begun</strong> to transform a property along U.S. 93 and Sunnyview Lane owned by Kalispell Regional Medical Center into green space Tagen Vine, president of the Kalispell Regional Healthcare Foundation, said that for the foreseeable future the land is going to remain an open green space.</p><p>(Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Drivers on U.S. 93 may notice a new green space while heading up Buffalo Hill, and that’s just the point.
Kalispell Regional Healthcare has added new green space where a house used to be on the corner of U.S. 93 and Sunnyview Lane.
Tagen Vine, president of the Kalispell Regional Healthcare Foundation, said the space is being preserved to provide some greenery to the heathcare campus.
“Kalispell Regional purchased the property about three years ago,” he said.
When the hospital purchased the land, Julia “Judy” Evenson lived there. The contract stated she could live on the property until she died.
Evenson passed away on Feb. 1, 2015, and the hospital proceeded to open up the green space, tearing down the house over the summer.
That corner will be developed with grass and other amenities. Vine said the space could potentially have flowers, benches and a walking trail in the future for patients and family members to relax.
“It’s an open space for people to use, maybe the children at The Summit [Medical Fitness Center],” Vine said. “For the child care there.”
Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.