Belgrade parks staff outlines new hire, Mayfair Meadows grant and wastewater-funded 80-acre park concept

Staff member provided the Belgrade Regional Parks, Trails, and Recreation District board with a sweeping operations update at the meeting, saying Jordan Green will officially begin Dec. 1 and will help prioritize capital projects and grant pursuit.

The update covered staffing, maintenance, programming and several capital ideas. "He's literally just wrapping up his last bits of work ... and December 1 is his official day," Staff member said, announcing the new hire who will focus on converting master-plan priorities into actionable projects.

Why it matters: the district is juggling routine maintenance, community programming and options to fund larger projects without taking on full debt. Staff member told the board the district is advancing a Mayfair Meadows proposal that would pair a $450,000 state and federal grant with roughly $100,000 from county funds plus additional in-kind contributions to move trail and recreation work forward.

"We're moving that along," Staff member said of the Mayfair Meadows grant application, adding staff and board supporters have been identifying tens of thousands of dollars and in-kind help to match the grant.

In a separate, larger concept, staff described discussions with state officials about developing roughly 80 acres for ball fields, open space and potential recreation buildings by pairing park development with wastewater rehabilitation infrastructure. Staff member said an appraisal from 2023 valued the site at about $6,000,000 and that a wastewater-driven approach could cover a significant share of costs — possibly more than half — by using wastewater utility fees to fund treatment wetlands and recharge work rather than issuing full public debt.

"There is a new process out there that ... rehabilitates the water to put it back in," Staff member said, adding the state has shown continued interest in supporting the approach. The staff presentation noted the concept aims to design wetlands that also support ball fields and other park uses while delivering treated water back to the ground.

Committee members asked about safety and environmental impacts; in response, Staff member said treated wastewater in the proposed system would be processed to a level described in the meeting as "healthy enough to drink" and said the design would be intended to be safe for wildlife, people and pets. "Safe for wildlife, safe for humans, safe for dogs," Staff member said when asked directly about safety concerns.

Other operational items included: plans to centralize sprinkler-system controls to detect misuse and enable remote management; phased security-camera installation at splash parks and restrooms; pavilion repairs (including replacing broken barbecue grills estimated at about $300–$400 each); support for two staff members to attend a local master gardener program that requires volunteer hours and would feed into pollinator garden education; and community outreach such as attending Belgrade High School's career fair.

The staff report also covered trail planning. Staff member explained a proposed Mayfair Meadows trail and a new Yellowstone Avenue trail would expand winter walking and cross-country opportunities; staff said they are negotiating with a homeowner to use a narrow gap between Lions Park and Minicucci Park to reduce maintenance travel time.

Board action and next steps: The board approved the meeting minutes from September by voice vote earlier in the session; the staff update drew several follow-up questions and requests for more detail. Staff member said the district will confirm an up-to-date survey of the 80‑acre parcel and then submit a formal application to the state if the survey supports the wastewater/park funding approach. The board did not take formal action on the 80‑acre concept at this meeting and will revisit priorities with the incoming hire and as grant details firm up.