A trail through the James Bakke Nature Reserve has opened, while work on the city's newest green space is expected to continue until a dedication planned for next spring.

The Nature Reserve on West Seventh Street is planned to be a natural space with an interpretive trail on the four-acre property. Picnic tables are also now part of the reserve.

As more folks begin using the park, the city of Whitefish Parks and Recreation Department is reminding users that dogs must be on a leash while visiting the reserve.

Maria Butts, Parks and Recreation Director, reminds folks that off-leash dogs can scare and chase wildlife causing them to avoid the area.

“There's a lot of people that want to use it, but because it's an open space they are letting their dogs off leash,” she said. “We don't want them to chase the wildlife. We want the wildlife to live there and feel comfortable.”

Dogs are required to be on a leash in Whitefish including in parks and on sidewalks. Dogs can be off leash at the Hugh Rogers WAG Park and on the Whitefish Trail, if they are under voice control.

The city also reminds folks to clean up after their dogs using dog waste bags and trash receptacles at many parks.

The late Whitefish artist James Bakke donated his property to the city to provide an open space for the benefit of the Whitefish community thus creating the Nature Reserve.

“It's not really a park,” Butts said. “It's a nature reserve — it's unique and special.”

While the reserve is open, there is still more work to be completed on the park before it's officially complete. The walking trail is expected to offer a unique experience including signs that allow for tree identification, a fitness experience that includes stops for exercise and an exploration of Bakke's life through his artwork. The city still plans to install two kiosks and five interpretative signs.

“It's really three trails in one to honor his contribution to the city,” Butts said. “Fitness was important to him — he used to do exercises in his barn so we want to keep that focus on fitness. The tree identification is because he was a lover of nature, and obviously he was an artist so we want to honor that.”

The property also lends itself to winter activity offering the chance for cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

The Rotary Club of Whitefish raised $23,000 in funding for the reserve through the Whitefish Community Foundation's Great Fish Challenge and has dedicated many hours of community service to the reserve, according to the city. The club also constructed the picnic tables.

Others have also contributed to the project, the city notes, including Stumptown Historical Society, Forestoration and Donna Hopkins.