An outdoor patio is ready to go at Flathead County’s new South Campus Building, thanks in large part to Dave Reynolds of Alpine Sprinklers and Landscape.

When a private fundraising campaign for the patio began earlier this year, Reynolds stepped up and said he and his crew would donate the materials and labor to get the job done. The patio had been cut from the building project as the county reduced costs to bring the total closer to an initial $6 million budget projection. In the end the total cost wound up being $7 million.

Reynolds said he was inspired to help because when he started his business in 1974, many of his customers were part of “The Greatest Generation.”

“The people were the loggers, farmers and business people who made this town a great place,” he said. “This group of people worked hard every day. They all learned the art of giving back to the community and I guess some of this rubbed off.

“So when I read in the paper that the seniors were not going to get their patio, I simply said to Grant Kerley at Swank Enterprises, ‘Yes, they would.’”

Reynolds then called Don Anderson at Anderson Masonry to help with the cost of the pavers. He asked Dwight Iamm at Montana Cad to pitch in for the crushed rock. Jeff and Debbie Brown of The Hardware Store are helping with patio furniture and flowers.

Reynolds also gave a high five to his crew — “the greatest hardscape crew a guy could ever have.” Those who helped finish the patio included Bruce Altenburg, Jerry Abel, Justin Thomas, Don Wilhelm, Brad Dixon and Austin Gimmich.

The work was finished Wednesday at the new building on First Avenue West.

Diane Queen Miller of Kalispell led the effort to raise money for the patio once she learned the county commissioners had trimmed it from the project amenities. In the end her effort brought in $7,723 from 38 donors.

Since Reynolds and Anderson supplied their materials and services, the majority of the money raised will go toward furniture and accessories, said Lisa Sheppard, director of the Flathead County Agency on Aging.

“It’s going to be just stunning,” Sheppard said about the outdoor patio. “The [Kalispell] Senior Center folks are fired up about it. The patio is a hot topic of conversation. This will really make this the kind of place where people want to sit and stay.”

Reynolds added: “This gift to the seniors comes from lots of hands reaching across the table to say enjoy it.”

The Agency on Aging and Kalispell Senior Center will occupy the ground level of the new building and will be moving in by late July. The patio will be used not only by seniors but also county employees and the public.

Several other county departments also will relocate to the new 30,500-square-foot, two-story building.

The Environmental Health Department, along with the Election Department and Planning and Building Department, all will be located on the second floor of the South Campus Building.

A multipurpose room with a wood dance floor is included to accommodate Kalispell Senior Center classes, but other groups will be able to use the space if they reserve it.

The facility is constructed to accommodate a third floor as needed, along with structural footings for a sky bridge to one day connect the building to the Earl Bennett Building to the north, if the commissioners were to choose that option.

Swank Enterprises is the general contractor for the project.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.