Flathead County commissioners voted unanimously last week against renewing the county’s lease on Sliter Park, a decision the park’s supporters described as disappointing but not unexpected.

Commissioners considered public comments from Bigfork community members as well as information presented by Parks and Recreation Director Chris Maestas during their April 30 meeting. They ultimately voted to follow the Weed, Parks and Recreation Board’s recommendation against renewing the lease for another five-year term. The lease is set to expire on July 31. 

The decision does not mean Sliter Park will close but leaves its future uncertain. The downtown Bigfork park sits on property owned by the Oregon-based electric power company PacifiCorp, which operates the village’s hydroelectric dam. The county has leased the land for the last 45 years and manages it as a county park in partnership with Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork.  

“I know that the park is really an important part of Bigfork,” said Commissioner Pamela Holmquist. “We have a tough decision here today. We have to maintain a very conservative budget and be very fiscally responsible. I know that staffing has been an issue, not just in [the Parks and Recreation Department], but many departments out there ... We have to make those tough decisions based on our budget and what we can afford to do.” 

Maestas said that while much of the conversation around Sliter Park has centered on the budget — Sliter Park costs the county around $4,000 each year to maintain — staffing is his primary concern.  

The county manages more than 70 parks. All have seen increased use in recent years, leading to deferred projects as department personnel juggle priorities. Sliter Park requires about 200 to 250 man-hours to maintain each summer and has faced ongoing expenses related to vandalism, according to Maestas. The county operates nine other parks and trails in the Bigfork area. 

“This would just be a way for us to maximize our ability to maintain all of our owned parks and lands, while this park would either be run by the community or by PacifiCorp,” Maestas said. 

Bigfork, which is unincorporated, relies on county support and private fundraising to maintain green spaces like Sliter Park.  

Holmquist described the Bigfork community as resilient and expressed confidence that they would “work hard to keep the park open.”  

The remark that drew loud sighs from the many residents in attendance. 

“While I know that community groups in Bigfork will come in and take over and our park will not close, I also feel like we in Bigfork are always asking each other for money to support everything that we do,” said Jenni Cosand of the Bigfork Youth Center, which uses Sliter Park for their summer programming. “To spread those donated funds even more than we already are to just keep our park open is a little bit scary to me.” 

PacifiCorp has proposed Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork take over the park in the event the county steps away. However, the foundation, represented by President Megan Shoultz, told commissioners the lease is a heavy lift without the county’s assistance.  

“Our foundation would face tens of thousands of dollars annually in operations and maintenance costs,” said Shoultz. “We are a small nonprofit with limited capacity. Taking on the full responsibility would strain our resources and limit our ability to support other important community projects across Bigfork.” 

PacifiCorp has indicated that, if necessary, they will take on the management of Sliter Park themselves. 

“This recommendation was made with the understanding that the park itself would not be going away,” reiterated Maestas during his presentation. “I've had multiple conversations with PacifiCorp’s senior property agent and was informed in each conversation that if [Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork] does not take on that lease, it would then be offered to another entity willing to maintain the park as a park. If nobody were to step in and take over the lease, PacifiCorp has told me that they will maintain the park themselves as a park.” 

Some residents worried that without a lease in place, PacifiCorp could sell the property. 

“I've heard conjecture that it will always remain a park, but there is no guarantee that a private company could not sell that land,” said Andrew Sliter, great-grandson of Bigfork founder and Sliter Park namesake Everit L. Sliter. 

Commissioner Brad Abell echoed his concern. 

“It basically comes down to whether PacifiCorp can be trusted for the next five years to maintain their lease,” he said. “If the park stays in operation, then all is good, but that chance puts a layer of uncertainty there. That’s what I hear and see in the community.” 

PacifiCorp has previously said it will need to consider its options for Sliter Park if no organization assumes the lease. This could include a skeleton maintenance crew, limited hours and no events at the stage. The popular Riverbend Concert Series and the annual Whitewater Festival both use the stage during the summer months. The expiration of the current lease falls halfway through this year’s concert series season. 

PacifiCorp is inviting any organizations interested in the Sliter Park lease to contact  PacifiCorp Property Management at [email protected]. 

Reporter Elsa Ericksen can be reached at 406-758-4459 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.