Flathead County commissioners are once again weighing whether to renew a lease for downtown Bigfork’s Everit L. Sliter Memorial Park.

This issue is on the agenda for the April 6 Flathead County Weed/Parks and Recreation Board meeting, according to director Chris Maestas. The board, which acts in an advisory capacity to the commissioners, will debate recommending the lease renewal. 

Maestas emphasized that regardless of what county commissioners ultimately decide, Sliter Park will remain open to the public as a park. 

However, Megan Shoultz, president of the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork, worries that if the county does not renew the lease, Sliter Park will face uncertain changes related to maintenance standards and events held at the park, which include the Riverbend Concert Series and the Bigfork Whitewater Festival. 

Sliter Park often finds itself at the center of these reluctant custody battles. Three groups currently juggle the park: PacifiCorp, the county Parks and Recreation Department, and Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork. None of the entities want to take sole management of the park, which has led to tension and confusion over the years.  

The park property, located at 291 Bridge St., is owned by PacifiCorp. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requires PacifiCorp, as the operator of the hydroelectric dam, to make certain concessions for use of the waterway, including public access. Sliter Park is the fulfillment of this requirement.  

Parks and Recreation began leasing Sliter Park from PacifiCorp 45 years ago, taking on the associated costs for maintenance. The most recent lease agreement, signed in 2021, is set to expire on July 31. 

The current debate over Sliter Park’s lease can be traced back to 2013, when Parks and Recreation first floated the idea of stepping away. The department cited a deficit between what the park costs to maintain and the revenue it generates. 

In response, Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork stepped in and worked out an agreement to keep the park in the county parks system. The Foundation would pay for the lease, as well as contribute to the operations costs of the park. This contract is renegotiated annually, and the Foundation currently pays up to $5,000 annually in operations expenses. 

This agreement was sufficient to sustain the park in the past, explained Maestas, but in the five years since the last lease with PacifiCorp was signed, the landscape for the Parks and Recreation Department has changed significantly. 

“We have more parks, and our parks are being used significantly more often than they have been in the past,” Maestas said. “Basically, our park usage is such that we're being really stretched thin, not only from a budget standpoint, but also from a staffing standpoint, so we're having to cut back services somewhere.” 

Maestas also cited the challenges of operating under the purview of PacifiCorp. While the county is responsible for maintaining the park, since the property is leased, they need PacifiCorp’s approval to make any changes.  

“It takes several days, if not weeks, to finally get approval from PacifiCorp to have something done on the ground, whereas any of our other parks, if we see a problem, we can go out there and take care of it,” he said. 

Sliter Park is one of only two leased parks in the county parks system. The other is the Conrad Complex Sports Facility.  Maestas said that unlike Sliter Park, the costs for the Conrad Complex are offset by the fees for adult and youth recreation programs.  

PacifiCorp has not yet made plans for Sliter Park if the county does not renew the lease, according to PacifiCorp Communication Specialist Drew Marine.

“PacifiCorp remains committed to meeting its obligations under its FERC license,” Marine wrote in an email to the Eagle. “If Flathead County and Community [Foundation] for a Better Bigfork do not assume the lease, PacifiCorp will need to consider options for Sliter Park.” 

Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork is unsure if they would be able to come up with the funds necessary to take on the lease and maintain the park on their own. The nonprofit organization relies on fundraising and donations to support Bigfork projects. 

Insurance is one stumbling block. PacifiCorp currently requires a $5 million insurance policy as part of the lease, and Shoultz said it would be challenging, if not impossible, for the Foundation to find coverage for Sliter Park alone.  

According to Shoultz, the county approached the Foundation regarding a collaborative solution that would involve the county maintaining the lease but turning over all maintenance costs to the Foundation. This would sidestep the insurance issue, but Shoultz said the additional expenses would still be a tall order for the nonprofit. 

Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork would have to take on an estimated $9,000 in maintenance costs that were previously covered by the county. In addition, PacifiCorp plans to raise the cost of the lease from $250 per year to $300 per year.  

The Foundation already spends over $10,000 per year to support Sliter Park. Last year, it invested around $8,000 on independent maintenance contracts, in addition to the lease payments and the $5,000 it pays to the county. The county funds an average of 200 hours of maintenance per year at Sliter Park, according to Maestas, but Shoultz said this isn’t enough to keep up with the traffic the park sees, especially in the summer months. 

Shoultz is concerned PacificCorp will not have the resources to maintain the park to the same standards and that it will no longer be possible to host events like the Riverbend Concert Series or the Whitewater Festival at the park. 

“Currently any event requires a permit from PacifiCorp that includes proof of the necessary insurance policy,” wrote Marine. 

Shoultz said the Foundation wants to see the county renew the lease while the nonprofit continues to financially support the park’s maintenance.  

"The Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork is disappointed that the county is planning to drop the lease even though Sliter Park is the only county park to receive assistance like this,” Shoultz said. “The park is a huge draw not only for locals but for tourists. It hosts so many important events in the community. The name of the park is Sliter, like it is back to our roots of the town.” 

The Weed/Park Board meeting will be held on Monday, April 6 at 311 FFA Drive, Kalispell. Public comment starts at 8:30 a.m.  

Any entities interested in the Sliter Park lease can contact PacifiCorp Property Management at [email protected].