Kalispell is launching a public campaign for a new master plan meant to guide the city on the future of its parks, trails, facilities and recreation programs for the next 10 years.  

City officials will be soliciting residents’ thoughts and concerns regarding municipal parks and programs during three events this week at the Kalispell Parks and Recreation Department office in Depot Park.  

An open house will be held July 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. at 15 Depot Park. On July 9, officials will set up an informational booth in Depot Park between noon and 1:30 p.m. An ice cream social will be held between 6 and 8 p.m. that same day.  

“We want this to be a community plan,” said Fred Bich, department superintendent.  

The existing master plan, which Bicha described as “very outdated,” was adopted in 2006 and was meant to inform decisions until 2020.  

The new roadmap will lay out a list of priorities for the Parks Department to tackle. It also will outline programs sought by the community and seek to improve existing offerings. Bicha hopes the new plan will address deferred maintenance as well.   

The city plans to meet one-on-one with 50 community stakeholders involved in Parks Department services to gather input, according to Bicha.  

Work on the plan began this year and is expected to be completed by next spring for Kalispell City Council to adopt.  

The master plan is projected to cost $100,000, which is paying for Washington-based consultant Michael Terrell Landscape Architecture to lead and guide the project, according to Bicha.  

Out of that figure, $20,000 was spent over fiscal year 2025, with $80,000 budgeted for fiscal year 2026.  

A survey will be released to offer another way for residents to provide feedback. The 25-question survey will cover a range of topics, including whether the Parks programs are meeting peoples’ needs, or how facilities can be improved.  

More pop-up events are scheduled for August.  

Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 and [email protected].