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Bozeman begins Story Mill splash pad and parking‑lot construction; pilot stewardship and facility upgrades move forward
Summary
City staff said construction began on the Story Mill Park splash pad and east parking lot, with partners including Trust for Public Land and Gallatin County Open Space Board. Staff also described Lindley Park upgrades, an Oak Springs land‑stewardship pilot, Bogart Pool improvements and hiring of an assistant parks director.
City park planner Ross Snapper and city staff reported at the May 22 Urban Parks and Forestry Board meeting that construction has begun on several PRAT (Parks, Recreation and Active Transportation) implementation projects, including the anticipated splash pad at Story Mill Park and an East Parking Lot that was part of an earlier phase.
Snapper said the splash pad — funded in part by a Gallatin County Open Space Board grant and developed with Trust for Public Land partnership — had a groundbreaking earlier in the week and is expected to open this summer. The splash pad uses a capture‑treat‑reuse system rather than a simple flow‑through system; Snapper said that approach is more expensive and requires on‑site testing but is more water‑wise. He said features are primarily motion‑activated, and initial operating hours will follow park hours (5 a.m. to 11 p.m.), with the ability to shut the system off completely.
Staff described East Parking Lot construction as restarted now that adjacent development (Stockyards Properties) is connecting Hillside Lane to Griffin Drive; the parking design was modified to accommodate that roadway connection. Snapper said pedestrian crossing improvements remain under Montana Department of Transportation (MDOT) jurisdiction and that parks staff do not control crosswalk installations on the state highway.
Other projects reported: Lindley Park playground replacement and installation of a small pump track and a concrete pad for skateboard/all‑wheels use (construction expected to finish by June 11); the Burke Park Traverse (described during public comment by GVLT) as a partnership project; and an Oak Springs Park pilot with Gallatin Watershed Council to reestablish riparian buffers and reduce turf mowing near stream channels. Snapper noted Branch Out Bozeman tree plantings near the Oak Springs playground and said staff aim to apply the stewardship model elsewhere if successful.
Department‑level updates from Mitchell included hiring and construction schedules: interviews are underway for an assistant parks and recreation director; seasonal hires are in process; Bogart Pool will undergo structural and gutter improvements and likely will not operate during the next summer construction season while work occurs; the Lendly Center renovation is advancing to general‑contractor interviews; and the city is pursuing a 66‑acre mountain‑bike park (Bike Fill) adjacent to Snowfill, plus two new athletic fields at Bozeman Sports Park in partnership with the Sports Park Foundation and Bozeman School District.
No formal board votes were recorded on these items; staff provided progress updates and noted partner roles and funding sources where relevant.
