The Lakeside couple who donated a $3 million waterfront park to Flathead County fours years ago have developed a second phase of the park in Lakeside and will deed it to the county today.

Bruce Ennis and Margaret Davis meet with the county commissioners at 9 a.m. to transfer ownership of Volunteer Park Phase 2 to the county. The addition adds about 82 feet of additional lakeshore frontage on Flathead Lake and 30 feet of U.S. 93 frontage.

A short, informal opening of the park expansion is planned at 8 a.m. Wednesday at Volunteer Park in Lakeside. The commissioners and county park officials will attend.

“This truly solidifies Volunteer Park as our flagship park,” Flathead County Parks and Recreation Director Jed Fisher said. “This gift is incredibly generous and we’re proud to manage it and provide it to the public.”

Davis said use of Volunteer Park has been heavy this summer, with large crowds at the beach and numerous functions staged in the park pavilions.

The new addition provides more options for open-space activities, shade trees, three benches and a beachfront with sections of fine gravel and stone steps, Davis said.  

A concrete loop sidewalk connects the new area with the existing park facilities. Improvements to the irrigation system were part of the latest project. Additional storm drainage and a sidewalk extension along U.S. 93 also were completed, she said.

Davis and Ennis purchased the additional property just north of Volunteer Park and developed the amenities before transferring ownership to the county. The property was put up for sale a year ago and the county — eyeing it for park expansion — had it appraised and found it valued at $560,000.

Ennis and Davis initially pledged $500,000 toward the acquisition of the property, but wound up purchasing and developing the park expansion. The work included demolishing an existing home.

They’ve declined to say how much they’ve invested in the latest project, but a county official speculated its worth at more than $1 million.

Bruce Boody Landscape Architects of Whitefish designed the addition and Robert Peccia & Associates of Kalispell provided engineering services.

In addition to general contractor Bauer and Buck, major work was done by Flathead contractors Valley Earthscapes, Sands Surveying, Auto Rain Irrigation, Glacier Traffic, B3 Concrete, M. Raiman Arborist and Tanner J Smith Construction, Davis noted in an email to the Inter Lake.

“Many other local businesses and professionals also participated in the project,” Davis said.

The Lakeside Community Council, county parks staff, county Planning Office and Montana Department of Transportation also provided assistance.

“Neighbors West Venture Real Estate and Noel and Joan Bartlett offered support and patience during the summerlong construction process,” Davis said. “The Lakeside Community Chapel stored and maintained the transplanted shrubs and trees from the existing park until they could be replanted in the expanded park.”

Ennis grew up in Kalispell and spent a lot of time on Flathead Lake. When he returned to the area 10 years ago, he and Davis were struck by the limited options for lake access. When an accessible tract of lakefront property became available off Adams Street, the couple bought it with a community park in mind.

They were pleased with the community response to Volunteer Park and said in 2010 it exceeded their expectations.

“We knew there was a pent-up demand for this kind of park and we’re delighted with how it’s being used,” she said when the park opened in August 2010.