City Councilors on Monday said Kalispell’s forthcoming Parks and Recreation Master Plan lacks the level of detail needed to guide future investments.  

The planning document — which would replace the master plan adopted in 2006 — is expected to outline the future needs of Kalispell's parks as the city prepares to exceed 50,000 residents by 2045. Owing to community input, the plan prioritizes investing in existing parks before pursuing major expansions or new amenities.  

Some councilors called for a more detailed capital improvement plan outlining specific projects, their estimated costs and when funding should be allocated.  

"If we're growing that big, it's going to take a huge investment, and I think the plan needs to spell out some of those capital outlay investments better," Councilor Jed Fisher said. 

Having served as Flathead County's Parks and Recreation director for over three decades, Fisher said securing sufficient funding is a persistent challenge for parks departments.  

"Parks is always like the bastard stepchild. It gets any money that's left over," Fisher said. 

He said that a detailed capital plan that provides a roadmap for long-term improvements will make it easier to attract potential private investors or go to voters with a levy. 

"I know a lot of work went into this. I've done a couple of these. But I think we can do better," Fisher said.  

He said he'd be willing to put more money into the plan to ensure it's up to par.  

Councilor Dustin Leftridge also asked for more specifics on what improvements each park needs. He recalled that the recently adopted water and sewer facility plan updates included a capital improvement plan outlining future projects and costs.  

"I don't see that here," he said. 

Council last reviewed the plan in January, when about 60% of it was finished. The document is now 90% complete. The Parks Department hired Washington-based consultant Michael Terrell Landscape Architecture to lead the effort.  

Council is expected to vote on whether to adopt the plan later this summer. 

THE MASTER plan recommends developing a separate long-term plan for Woodland Park to identify future investments.  

But Mayor Ryan Hunter urged the city to move ahead with plans to dredge the park's pond to make it suitable for fishing. He said delaying the project until a plan is adopted would unnecessarily postpone an improvement that already has Council support.  

"I do get a little frustrated with the slow pace of bureaucracy," Hunter said. 

The plan also recommends investing in a van that operates a mobile recreation program for neighborhoods with no public parks nearby.  

"A mobile recreation program can deliver services to [homeowners association] parks that are essentially filling the role of neighborhood parks in many cases," the plan states. 

HUNTER ASKED the Parks Department to consider building a spiral ramp off the section of Parkline Trail that overlooks Woodland Park. 

"People can come and get their photos, you know, tourist photos with the mountains in the background," Hutner said.  

Councilor Sid Daoud asked department officials whether there was space to grow the Kalispell Community Garden in Hawthorne Park.   

"It looks like something that we could expand, and it would probably be successful since it's heavily utilized right now," Daoud said.  

Fincher said that ideally, a garden would be placed in another city park, but there is enough space to expand in Hawthorne Park as well.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.