Flathead County commissioners opt not to renew Sliders Park lease after parks staff warn of staffing strain

Flathead County commissioners voted April 30 to decline a five-year lease extension for Sliders Park, following a Parks Department recommendation that the county free up staff and budgetary resources to maintain county-owned parks.

Megan Schultz, president of the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork, urged the board during public comment to renew the county's five-year lease with Pacific Corp, saying her nonprofit and other volunteers help cover operations. "We strongly urge the Flathead County Commissioners to renew the 5 year lease with Pacificor for Slider Park," Schultz said, adding the foundation contributes “approximately $10,000 per year" toward maintenance.

County Parks and Recreation Director Chris Mestis told the commissioners the department is managing more than 70 parks and trails countywide and is increasingly unable to meet routine maintenance demands. Mestis said Sliders Park requires roughly "200 to 250 man hours a year to maintain" and that repeated vandalism and related repairs have added to the burden. "Our recommendation'dovetails with the Weed and Parks Board, and we recommend that the County walk away from the lease, allow it to terminate this July without signing an extension," Mestis said.

Mestis said Pacific Corp's 2015 12-year recreation resource management plan commits that company to preserving public access in the area and that Pacific Corp told county staff the land would be offered to CFBB at a nominal rate if the county stepped away. "If CFBB does not take on that lease, it would then be offered to another entity willing to maintain the park as a park," Mestis said.

Residents and business owners emphasized the park's local role: Justin Slider, who said his great-grandfather founded the park, warned there is no legal guarantee a private owner could not sell the land if the county terminates its lease. Rebecca King, director of the Big Fork Chamber of Commerce, and other commenters stressed the park's contribution to local events and tourism.

Commissioners debated the tradeoffs between preserving county stewardship and reallocating limited staff resources. One commissioner noted that while property values have risen, county receipts are capped by state formulas and staffing remains constrained. After discussion, a commissioner moved to "uphold the Parks and Rec Board's recommendation to not renew the lease at Sliders Park," the motion was seconded and the motion carried.

What happens next: Under the resource management plan Mestis cited, Pacific Corp has stated it would offer the lease to the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork on a year-to-year basis if the county declines the five-year option; Pacific Corp also said it would maintain the land as a park if no other lessee steps forward. County staff said the decision preserves county resources for owned properties; the commissioners did not direct staff to adopt a new county maintenance plan for Sliders Park. The county meeting record shows the decision was carried on the motion recorded at the meeting.