For immediate release: April 24, 2024
Media contact:
Sean O’Callaghan, Gallatin County Planning Director/Open Lands Coordinator
406-582-3130
sean.ocallaghan@gallatin.mt.gov
Gallatin County Commission Approves Funding for Public Open Lands Projects
The Gallatin County Commission approved using Open Lands Program money to help fund nine projects that support open space in Bozeman, Three Forks, West Yellowstone, Big Sky, Bridger Canyon and waterways across the Gallatin Valley.
On Tuesday, April 23, commissioners voted unanimously to spend $648,158 to provide funding to a wide range of projects.
One of the funded projects was the Headwaters Trail System, which is a network of about 12 miles of paved trails that runs along the former Milwaukee Railroad bed through the city of Three Forks. The $100,000 from Gallatin County will go toward maintaining over four miles of trail in three different sections: from the Madison River pedestrian bridge east to where the trail terminates; from the Drouillard Fishing Access site to Kansas Street in Three Forks; and from Hickory Street south to the baseball fields.
The other eight projects funded include:
- Big Sky Owners Association – Little Coyote Pond Fishing Access and amenities – $100,000
- Gallatin River Task Force – Greek Creek streambank restoration and river access improvement project – $50,000
- Gallatin Watershed Council – Cleanup of streams and rivers in the Lower Gallatin Watershed – $10,308
- Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter – Improvements at Maxi Park, an 18-acre off-leash dog park at the shelter – $17,850
- Trout Unlimited – Third phase of the Dry Creek restoration project that would restore 14 additional stream banks – $50,000
- West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation – construction of the Rendezvous Operations Building to serve as a base for the Rendezvous Trail System – $100,000
- Crosscut Mountain Sports Center – construction of 3 kilometers of paved trail for roller-skiing – $100,000
- Gallatin County Regional Park – construction of a 1,200 square-foot shop to store park supplies and equipment, and a connecting trail to the park and an asphalt walkway along Vaquero Parkway – $100,000
“This is a really fun exercise to be reminded of all the great work that’s happening out there in the community in providing conservation and recreation infrastructure across the county,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown. “They all add incredible richness and value to our communities.”
Money for these projects come from the voter-approved Gallatin County Open Space Levy, which was passed in 2018. This year, there is about $3.5 million available total in the program.
While a majority of that money funds conservation projects, such as conservation easements for private landowners, about $887,000 was earmarked by the Gallatin County Commission for “other eligible projects.” These projects must be released to land acquisition, capital improvements, and maintenance projects that support the purpose of the Open Space Levy. Money left over from this round of applications will be rolled over to next year’s pool of funds.
Nine applications were received during the application period earlier this year. The Open Lands Board scored the submitted proposals and made recommendations to the Gallatin County Commission.
More information on each project, including applications and scoring, can be found attached to the commission’s agenda here.
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