HomeMy WebLinkAbout6-17-2020 Public Comment - D. Dolan - Support Funding for Story Mill Community ParkFrom:Dick Dolan
To:Agenda
Subject:Story Mill Community Park splash pad and northeast parking lot
Date:Wednesday, June 17, 2020 9:17:21 AM
Dear Mayor Mehl and City Commissioners,
Thank you for your past support for Bozeman parks and trails. In that regard, I writeto urge you to include funding for the Story Mill Community Park splash pad and thenortheast parking lot along Bridger Drive in the City of Bozeman budget.
I know you are all aware of the role parks and trails play in keeping Bozeman a vitalcommunity and in boosting the mental and physical health of our citizens. Our
collaborative efforts to build Story Mill Community Park was a shining example ofdelivering those benefits to our community. The recent passage of the Parks and
Trails District ballot measure shows that the community continues to stronglysupport its parks and trails.
A splash pad was one of the top desires voiced by the community when weconducted the outreach phase of the Story Mill Community Park project. As you willrecall, we built the underground infrastructure for a splash pad and equipped therestroom facility in preparation for this addition, knowing it was a priority for theCity. Since then, The Trust for Public Land has secured philanthropic support todesign the splash pad. We are prepared to move forward with the design if thecapital for the construction of the feature is included in the Bozeman Fiscal Year 2022budget.
In addition, the construction of the parking lot on the northeast parking lot along
Bridger Drive, as set forth in the Master Plan, is tied to the splash pad addition. Theexisting parking lot is frequently at capacity and demand for park programming is
increasing. Delaying construction of the northeast parking lot would make it difficultto honor growing reservation requests for the park pavilions and to grow
programming like the splash pad in the park and community center. I urge you tokeep funding for construction of the parking lot in the City budget.
The Trust for Public Land values its collaborative relationship with the City ofBozeman with respect to parks and trails. We look forward to continuing thatcollaboration on projects like the splash pad at Story Mill Community Park.
Sincerely,
Dick Dolan
Dick Dolan
Northern Rockies Director
The Trust for Public Land
1007 East Main Street, Suite 300
Bozeman, MT 59715
dick.dolan@tpl.org
(406) 582-6246
(406) 581-6417 (mobile)
Creating parks and protecting land for people
tpl.org