Broadwater County parks master plan recommended to commissioners after discussion with Rod and Gun Club

The Broadwater County Parks and Recreation Board on June 23 voted to recommend the countywide parks and open-space master plan to the county commissioners, clearing the plan for a public hearing and county-level consideration.

Board members described the document as a "living, breathing" guide that can be amended, and discussed next steps including grant-seeking, phased implementation and coordination with tenant organizations such as the Broadwater Rod and Gun Club and the local golf course.

The recommendation was moved and seconded during the meeting; the motion passed by voice vote and was sent to the county commissioners for a public hearing, the board chair said. The board chair read the motion onto the record: "The parks and open open space master plan for Broadwater County has been motioned and seconded for approval to be pushed to the county commissioners." The chair later confirmed the motion passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: The board framed the master plan as the foundational document the county will use to seek funding and to prioritize projects such as trails, ballfields and facilities. Board members stressed that adoption by the commissioners would not lock the county into a single, unchangeable layout; rather, the plan is intended to be updated and implemented in phases depending on funding and community needs.

Discussion and concerns: Much of the meeting focused on questions about how the plan will be implemented and who will carry out specific projects. Board members and attendees raised these principal concerns: - Implementation sequencing and funding: Board members said the plan will allow the county to pursue grants and other funding sources; which projects move forward will depend on available grants, local partners and private funding or donations. - Role of tenant groups and existing leases: Brad Peck of the Broadwater Rod and Gun Club told the board the club currently operates without using county funds, runs multiple events year-round and has a lease that renews automatically through 2029 (with renewal cycles that can extend up to 50 years under its terms). Peck said the club has about 620 members and that membership fees and hosted tournaments are the clubs primary revenue sources. - Safety and site layout around shooting ranges: The gun club emphasized safety boundaries, the cost of relocating or reorienting trap machines (estimates cited at roughly $40,000to fix one machine and up to $75,000 to reconfigure multiple machines), and the challenge of co-locating ballfields and shooting facilities without physical separation. Board members discussed options such as planting trees, installing fences or nets, and adjusting range boundaries to reduce conflicts. - Trail and bridge projects: Board members said Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) staff advised that no attachments would be permitted to the existing highway bridge over the Missouri River, meaning any trail crossing will require a stand-alone structure and likely more complex engineering and grant work. - Vault toilet purchase and installation: The board discussed a previously purchased vault toilet for Connors (Conners) that has not yet been installed; board members said they will follow up to determine whether any funds are refundable and who will be responsible for installation.

Stakeholder engagement and next steps: Board members encouraged continued involvement by tenant organizations (Rod and Gun Club, golf course and others) and recommended that representatives from each group help refine proposals for their respective parcels. The board also discussed the idea of a strategic plan to coordinate longer-term priorities (3to 10 years), youth engagement on the board, and possible creative funding approaches discussed informally (including user or resort-style taxes to capture nonresident visitors), though no formal action on new funding sources was taken.

The county commissioners will hold a public hearing on the master plan as noticed; the board will report back following that hearing and continue work on implementation planning, potential grant applications and coordination with tenant organizations.