Kalispell council hones park rules for downtown trail

by BRET ANNE SERBIN
Daily Inter Lake | January 25, 2021 12:00 AM

The Kalispell City Council turns its attention to the process of building a city park along the Kalispell Core Area Trail — and the rules that will govern the park — during a remote work session at 7 p.m. tonight.

The Kalispell Parkline Trail, also known as the Core Area Trail, has been in the works in various stages for about a decade. The ambitious project has involved acquiring the right of way for the defunct railroad tracks that crisscross Main Street, removing the rails and replacing them with approximately 2 miles of multi-use pedestrian path.

This winter, the city plans to go out for bids for the installation of the path, with the hope that it will be usable for walkers, runners and bikers later this year.

At the work session, city staff and the council will go over the specifics of designating the Kalispell Parkline Trail as a city park. They will also review potential logos for the park, proposed by Highline Design Company LLC in Kalispell.

Staff has prepared an ordinance for the council’s consideration that lays out rules, regulations and special circumstances for the Kalispell Parkline Trail to function as a city park.

For instance, the 2-mile trail through downtown Kalispell will be maintained and operated by the city under the Parks and Recreation Department. However, the ordinance explains, “the City Council finds that the purposes of the Kalispell Parkline are unique from the other Kalispell city parks primarily because of the transportation aspect.”

Therefore, the agenda goes on to state, “… the rules and regulations of the Kalispell Parkline should vary in some respects from those applied to the other parks.”

One major variance would allow the Kalispell Parkline Trail to be open 24 hours a day “for the traveling public,” unlike other city parks.

The meeting agenda provides the following additional explanation for the extended hours: “the City Council finds that in order to encourage a vibrant use of the trail within the park, the hours of permissible use should be extended so that residences, food and beverage services and such other commercial uses serving residents and guests situated along the trail may be best utilized and enjoyed.”

The urban location of the trail brings into play special considerations for nearby businesses such as the Sunrift Restaurant, which opened along the trail last year specifically to be a part of the new development.

Public comments will be accepted during the virtual work session, or via email at publiccomment@kalispell.com.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.