A nature-themed makeover is in store for the playground at Kalispell’s Lawrence Park, starting next spring.

It’s a project that’s expected to take three years to complete, but the centerpiece improvement for playground equipment will come in the first year — a large treehouse structure with decks, landings, a 50-foot slide, a suspension bridge, a roofed enclosure and a variety of climbing features.

“It’s rather unique,” said Mike Baker, Kalispell Parks and Recreation director. “It’s new in the industry and it’s a little expensive but it’s well worth it. It will last a long time.”

The treehouse, designed for children ages 5 to 12, will have interpretive features, including animals and molded fossils hidden in the structure’s surfaces.

Baker said the city has included the $48,700 cost of the first phase in its budget, but funding for the following two phases is uncertain and likely will involve some fundraising help from a longtime cooperator, Friends of Lawrence Park.

Phase two for the project will involve the installation of a creative climbing rock structure that would be attached to the tree house, along with a new set of swings.

Phase three will be another tree house for children ages 2 to 5.

“It’s basically a smaller version of phase one,” Baker said. “It’s closer to the ground and built for smaller kids.”

All of the equipment will be installed in the area of the current playground at an overall cost of just over $100,000, Baker said.

The existing playground equipment has been heavily used since it was installed about 10 years ago.

“The existing playground material is, in some cases, beyond repair. In other cases, it doesn’t meet playground standards,” Baker said.

 “Maintenance-wise, we spend more on that one playground than we do on our other 17” city parks with playgrounds, Baker added. “It gets a lot of use and that takes a toll on it.”

Friends of Lawrence Park is an organization that was formed in the early 1980s in response to an effort to turn the Lawrence Park area into a nine-hole addition to the Buffalo Hills golf club. 

“They wanted to add another nine holes, and some of us thought it would be better to keep it as a park,” recalls Dave Downey, one of the founding members of the organization.

Since then, the group was involved with the installation of the current playground and in building the large and heavily used picnic pavilion at the park. 

Downey said the pavilion, a structure that would cost about $52,000, was built for $6,000 because of donated labor and materials arranged by Friends of Lawrence Park.

Downey said the group will be involved with getting future phases of the new playground completed.

The city, he said, “doesn’t quite have as much money as he needs  and we’re hoping that some money could be obtained by donations ... If somebody would like to help we would sure like to get their help.”

Anyone interested in contributing to Friends of Lawrence Park can contact Downey at 257-4311.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.