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Parks director outlines $735,000 plan to restore Basin Creek Park; construction may wait for summer logging
Summary
Butte-Silver Bow Parks & Recreation Director Shawn Fredrickson presented a $735,000 scope to repair Basin Creek Park—lawn restoration, irrigation, new trees, ADA pavilion, restrooms, parking and interpretive signage—with Great West Engineering selected to proceed; construction timing may be delayed by planned logging.
Butte-Silver Bow Parks & Recreation Director Shawn Fredrickson told the Historic Preservation Commission May 5 that Parks has secured funding through a BNRP resource to repair and rehabilitate Basin Creek Park and that Great West Engineering was selected through the RFP process.
"The approved scope involves fixing the lawn, removing dead trees, installing new trees, installing new irrigation system, fire hydrant, a new ADA-accessible pavilion, parking lot, restrooms, better security and lighting, and interpretive signs," Fredrickson said, adding that total contracted services will amount to $735,000.
Fredrickson summarized earlier outreach and approvals: the BNRC accepted a formal proposal in November 2025 and staff collaborated with former Butte employee Pat Cuneen on project ideas. He said a prior suggestion to rehabilitate the historic gazebo was referred back to the Historic Preservation Office. Commissioners asked about trailhead management and U.S. Forest Service participation; Fredrickson said the Forest Service has been part of conversations but the park closure and heavy truck use related to planned logging will likely push most construction until after logging concludes.
Chairman Steve Hinick urged care in integrating a new pavilion design into the historic setting, noting examples shown (a pavilion from Hyalite Canyon) may not fit Basin Creek’s aesthetic. Commissioner Russell O’Leary asked about the park closure length; Fredrickson said the park will be closed through the summer while large trucks use the roads.
Why it matters: the work affects park access, historic features, and summer recreation; staff reported mitigation where logging disturbed park grounds and said no new damage to listed historic features was found after slash removal.
What’s next: staff said they will coordinate construction timing with logging operations and bring updates and restoration details to the HPC at a future meeting.
