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Residents urge caution as Red Lodge considers land donation tied to Beartooth recreational trail
Summary
Residents told the committee that a private land donation for a connector trail could require routing through sensitive city land. Speakers asked the city to evaluate alternatives to avoid damaging a small hillside and freshwater spring and said Parks will report back before the council moves forward.
The committee heard public comment April 27 about a proposed private land donation intended to help connect the airport trail to downtown Red Lodge via 8th and 9th streets. Residents and speakers urged caution and asked the city to fully evaluate environmental impacts and alternatives before accepting donation conditions that might dictate trail alignment across city-owned land.
Steve Wright, a resident who said he submitted a letter into the public record, read portions of his written remarks, warning that the donor's preferred alignment "would require the unnecessary demolition of a hillside that contains a freshwater spring ecosystem that supports well established native trees and provides essential erosion control." Wright asked that the city "fully evaluate environmental impacts and alternatives before allowing private conditions to dictate the use of public land."
Another resident, Millie, spoke in support of the connector trail but said residents do not understand why the donor insists on routing the trail through a small piece of city-owned land rather than using existing access roads (North Adams and Nutting). Millie said she was told the donor's offer could be withdrawn if the trail does not go "exactly where mandated," and she urged the committee to require clearer justification and alternatives that avoid harming the hillside and spring.
A committee member who participated in a recent site tour said the donation appears to be for a portion of a property intended to provide an alternative access into the park and that there was no requirement to close existing trails. Staff said the parks board will consider alternatives at its upcoming meeting and provide recommendations to the committee; the chair said that Parks will meet before the next council meeting so the committee can have the parks board's input when the item returns for further discussion.
No decision was made; the committee asked Parks/Beartooth Trails to report findings and alternatives at the next scheduled Parks board meeting.
