WALLACE — Shoshone County commissioners recently approved a $300,000 reinvestment into the county parks department to modernize deteriorating facilities.  

Commissioner Dave Dose brought the proposal before the board after touring three parks and seeing how outdated and dilapidated they were.  

Dose proposed that the county reallocate $300,000 of Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funds that had originally been set aside for broadband expansion.

“We’ve been so guarded with what little funds we have that sometimes we don’t get a lot accomplished out there, especially maintenance,” Dose said. “Maintenance seems to be the first thing that got cut around here, years ago, because of the lack of funds.”  

The board was shown images from the parks, showing rusted, broken or aged playground equipment, maintenance equipment that has been cobbled together, all while being uncompliant with ADA standards.  

Dose included a prioritized list with his proposal, including athletic facilities, electrical and covered pavilions, but at the top of the list, he put playgrounds.  

“The bigger point is, we all want our kids to grow up here and stay in the area, but we invest very little in our youth and families,” Dose said.  

Dose said he would go out to the larger businesses in Shoshone County for donations.

Shoshone County manages East Shoshone Park near Mullan, West Shoshone Park in Pinehurst, and Gene Day Park in Osburn.  

The county plans to use its employees and volunteers, when possible, to complete the projects, but will also put portions of the multi-year project out for bid when necessary.  

Commissioner Jeff Zimmerman was curious about the state of the county’s broadband projects before approving Dose’s proposal, but Shoshone County Grants Administrator Colleen Rosson said current projects are being funded through USDA grants and should be completed by next year.