Background
In December of 2007, the City Commission was presented with a proposed process for developing currently undeveloped city parks throughout Helena into spaces that are useful to their communities. This includes land that has been reserved for parkland in new subdivisions as well as in older areas of town. See below for a map of these parks.
As a part of the process to develop these city parks, the City has asked the HCC to help form neighborhood steering committees in order to create master plans of what each neighborhood would like their park to look like. Therefore, we are making a call for people from each area around the undeveloped parks to come forward and volunteer to participate in the planning process.
Getting Started
The first step will be to assess the amount of interest in each neighborhood. Before the city dedicates time and money to creating a park, it must be clear that the area will be used and taken care of. The HCC is currently working with the City Parks Department to create a survey to use in order to judge the amount of interest in developing a park, what sorts of things people would like to see in their park, and what sort of commitment people are willing to make (monetary and otherwise).
Making a Plan
The next step in this process will be to organize a design charrette and create a master plan for the park according to community desires. The Parks Department will then develop a cost estimate and work with each steering committee to set a proposed budget and funding proposal for the plan. The HCC would then present the plan and the funding proposal to the Parks Board and the City Commission for review, prioritization, and approval.
What do we want in our park?
There are many options that each neighborhood can choose from when trying to decide what kind of park to create depending on the characteristics of the people living in the area. One group may want to create a park with lots of open space for sports and recreation, one group may want to have playground equipment for small children, and another may want to set aside space for a community garden. It is up to each steering committee to decide what the neighborhood needs and what it can afford.
How to Get Involved
If you would like to work on developing a park in your neighborhood, please spread the word among your neighbors and encourage them to create a steering committee. The HCC will assist you in getting people involved and gaining access to the resources you need. Please call Martha, the HCC Coordinator, at 447-8493 or your District representative for more information.
Undeveloped City Parks (Coordinates with Map)
1. Skelton: District 5 (Ptarmigan and Road Runner)
2. Northgate Meadows: District 5 (Benton and Northgate Loop)
3. Crystal Springs: District 5 (Crystal Springs Subdivision)
4. Pioneer Village: District 5 (100 Colter Loop) Neighborhood survey coming soon
5. Kessler School Area: District 3 (Plan already underway)
6. Stone Meadows: Outside City Limits (District 5?)
7. Artisan: Outside City Limits (District 3/4?)
8. Beltview Drive/Dayspring Loop: District 7; Survey completed, design work will begin soon. Join us for a discussion about a proposed land swap for this area on June 18th from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Smith School library. Contact Bob Habeck at 443-6143 for more information.
9. Saddle Drive/Nob Hill: District 7
10. Aspen Meadows: Outside City Limits (District 7?)
11. Aspen Trails: Outside City Limits (District 5?)
12. Sleeping Giant Subdivision: District 7
13. Meatloaf Hill: District 2 (East end of 2nd Street); Neighborhood residents want to keep it natural. Small improvements will be made as money is available.
14. Reber Subdivision: District 3; Neighborhood Survey coming soon.
Bold indicates parks that have been prioritized for early development.
