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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-29-26 Public Comment - J. MacLean - Cattail Creek Corridor Park and Anchor Route Master Plan Discussion From: Jenni MacLean To: Bozeman Public Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL]Cattail Creek Corridor Park and Anchor Route Master Plan Discussion Date: Thursday, May 28,2026 9:28:32 AM CAUTION:This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. I would like to submit comments in writing for the Cattail Creek Corridor Park and Anchor Route Master Plan Discussion on the UPF AGENDA for Thursday, May 28, 2026: I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed reduction of turf and recreational open space within West Winds Park. I have lived in the West Winds community for the past seven years, and during that time the neighborhood has changed dramatically, particularly with the addition of the large apartment complexes near 27th Avenue and Tschache Lane. There are now thousands more residents utilizing the West Winds parks and trail systems on a daily basis. As a homeowner on Santa Ana Drive with a direct view of the park, I witness the constant activity and use of the fields throughout the day. This is an extremely high-use area serving not only the West Winds neighborhood,but also the surrounding apartment communities. The strain from this growth has already been felt in our neighborhood, especially with the increase in traffic and speeding along Tschache Lane. While I appreciate the installation of the 15 MPH signs, I believe more substantial traffic calming measures are needed, including flashing speed monitors and additional reduced-speed signage on Santa Ana Drive and Buckrake Avenue. Increased park programming and density without addressing the transportation impacts will only worsen an already difficult situation for residents. I believe reducing the existing turf and open recreation areas would be a significant disservice to the community. Developers were allowed to pay cash-in-lieu fees rather than fully building adequate parks and green spaces to support the density they created. Because of this, existing neighborhood parks are already carrying a much heavier recreational burden than they were originally designed for. In my opinion,park infrastructure should be expanded to accommodate that growth, not reduced in a way that limits recreational space for families and residents. I think many residents would agree that a larger playground and additional traffic safety measures are positive additions to the community and would be welcomed. However, these improvements should not come at the expense of a highly utilized open lawn that already serves the neighborhood every day. Instead, amenities such as sportcorts, should be added in areas better suited to support them, such as the existing raw land associated with Gallatin County Regional Park, which already has parking and infrastructure capable of handling increased traffic and use. West Winds has already absorbed a disproportionate amount of the traffic and recreational impact from surrounding development. I respectfully urge the City to reconsider reducing usable turf and recreation space within this park and instead focus on expanding recreational opportunities in ways that better support both existing residents and future growth. Thank you for your time and consideration.