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Home My WebLink About2020 BSF CILP Application - Letters of Support 915 Highland Boulevard | Bozeman, MT 59715 | 406-414-5000 | bozemanhealth.org June 1, 2020 Addi Jadin Parks Planner and Development Manager City of Bozeman 814 North Bozeman Bozeman, MT 59771 To Whom It May Concern, Bozeman Health is proud to submit this letter in support of the Bridger Ski Foundation's (BSF) application to the City of Bozeman Cash-in-lieu of Parkland Funds. BSF’s plan to install a snowmaking system that will guarantee a reliable, consistent skiing experience from mid-December through early April in Bozeman would be hugely beneficial to the well-being of the entire community as their ski trails are free and open for anyone’s use. Bozeman Health enjoys a collaborative partnership with BSF; their ski trail grooming and maintenance program in Bozeman is a considerable investment in the health of Southwest Montana. Bozeman Health partners with BSF on our privately-own lands comprising the Highland Glen Nature Preserve (HGNP), which we opened to the public for winter skiing in 2010. BSF grooms ski trails that are both easily accessible to all user levels and provide recreational opportunities for the entire community. Bozeman Health is focused on supporting our partnership with BSF for the furthering of our mission – to improve community health and quality of life – and having reliable snowmaking ability at Sunset Hills will directly and positively impact community health and encourages people to live an #outdoorhealthylife. Research shows a positive relationship between neighborhood open space and physical activity. People in communities with abundant open spaces generally enjoy better health. BSF is one of the few ski clubs in the country that does not charge a mandatory trail fee, which means these trails are accessible to a broad swath of our community, as evidenced by their increasing user numbers. The consistency of snow conditions that could be achieved with this snowmaking system would reinforce Bozeman’s reputation as one of the premier Nordic ski communities in the country. Having quick and easy in-town access to skiing enhances the livability of Bozeman and is a fun, healthy activity that is accessible to all ages and ability levels. With Sunset Hills located right off the East Main exit, having substantial parking at the softball complex already in place, and safe pedestrian crossings in use thanks to our recent installation of stoplights at Highland and Ellis, these trails are accessible to any community member, regardless of what part of town they live in. As Southwest Montana’s healthcare provider of choice, we hope you favorably review BSF’s application as this is an important opportunity to support improve our community’s health and quality of life. With you in health, John Hill President and CEO Bozeman Health June 3, 2020 To: Addi Jadin Parks Planner and Development Manager City of Bozeman 814 North Bozeman Bozeman, MT 59771 Dear Ms. Jadin, I am writing today in support of the Bridger Ski Foundation’s request for Cash-in-lieu of Parkland Funds to install a snowmaking system at Sunset Hills that will provide reliable snow for public recreation in Bozeman. I am the Head Coach of the Montana State University Nordic Ski Team, and a constant beneficiary of the outstanding ski trails around the greater Bozeman area that BSF grooms and maintains throughout the winter. The proximity of the Sunset Hills trails to campus, combined with the quality of surface, makes Montana State University one of the most desirable NCAA ski programs in the country. Our athletes can get out of class and be on snow training on great trails in less than 20 minutes due to the community trail resources provided by BSF. While most other institutions must travel over an hour to the nearest trail system, our student athletes are able to minimize wasted transportation time and can devote the saved time to increasing their training volume, recovery time, or study time. Beyond the competitive racing team, I meet with many prospective students every year who decide to come study and live in Bozeman after learning about the winter resources that BSF provides to our whole community. As beneficial as the Sunset Hills trail system is to many MSU athletes and students, the trails are a vital resource for local community members of all ages, ski abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds. Nordic skiing is an amazing winter activity for the public and in my five years in Bozeman I have witnessed a substantial growth each year in the utilization of the trails by every demographic. As people continue to stream into Bozeman, the need for safe and reliable ski trails is accelerating rapidly and an investment in snowmaking will extend the opportunities for winter recreating activities right in town. These “shoulder seasons” can be difficult times for members of our communities to engage in healthy activities, especially outside in nature with no associated fee, and BSF is aiming to alleviate that issue for anyone struggling to find time or motivation, especially in early and late winter when outdoor activity options are limited. I believe our community from young kids, to elite ski racers, to older life-long enthusiasts relies on the Bridger Ski Foundation’s dedication to promoting community trails for a year-round healthy lifestyle. The ease of access to over 70km of trail and quality of maintenance is a huge benefit of living in Bozeman, and the investment in those trails through a snowmaking system is a worthy cause to support. Thank You, Matthew Perry Johnson Head Nordic Ski Coach Montana State University 406-994-4118 802-377-0616 c Addi Jadin Parks Planner and Development Manager City of Bozeman 814 North Bozeman Bozeman, MT 59771 I am writing in support of Bridger Ski Foundation’s request for cash in lieu of Parklands Funds to support the organizations Legacy Project to install snowmaking at Sunset Hills for cross-country skiing. I have been involved in cross-country skiing for most of my life either as a competitor, US Ski Team coach, or as national sales and product manager for Fischer skis. These jobs have taken me all over the US and the world and I have seen the value of communities adding snowmaking to their existing trail systems. Cross-Country skiing is a life long sport in which all age groups are able to participate. The addition of snowmaking at centrally located Sunset Hills will provide a longer and more reliable ski season for the Bozeman community. BSF has a long history of providing no cost groomed trails at Sunset Hills, the addition of snowmaking will only add value to an already great community resource. There will be an economic beneﬁt to the Bozeman community as well. Those retailers who sell cross-country product will see an increase in sales as the skiing public will know that there will be guaranteed skiing and no risk to purchased that equipment. In addition BSF holds races at Sunset Hills for competitors coming from neighboring states. In the past these events have sometimes been cancelled due to lack of snow. Snowmaking will allow these races to be held and the competitors, coaches, and parents will come to Bozeman to support the local community. Bozeman provides numerous outdoor activities both summer and winter, one of the many reasons people move here from all over the country. The groomed trail system that is available here in Bozeman is unique for a town this size and Sunset Hills is the center of that system. The course proposed for the snowmaking will offer varied terrain allowing for experts and entry level skiers to enjoy the sport. The addition of snowmaking will only enhance Bozeman’s reputation as an outdoor recreation center and provide for the increasing number of skiers that are using the no fee trail system groomed by the Bridger Ski Foundation for over 50+ years. The addition of snowmaking will add to the long terms beneﬁts of the parks and surrounding properties. It will provide for a increased use of an already popular winter activity, along with providing a healthy, centrally located area perfect for social distancing for the foreseeable future. I strongly recommend the awarding of the grant to the Bridger Ski Foundation. Peter Ashley 16 Oasis Trail Bozeman, Mt 59718