HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-14-26 Public Comment - C. Fifer - Revisions to Harvest Creek ParkFrom:Carol Fifer
To:Bozeman Public Comment; Harvest Creek Owners association
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Revisions to Harvest Creek Park
Date:Monday, September 14, 2026 4:01:49 PM
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As a property owner directly adjoining the City Park as it passes thru Harvest Creek I would
like to share some observations with you, some personal recommendations, and somerequests.
Harvest Creek is a PUD approved by the City over 25 years ago. The area under considerationfor modification was owned and maintained at the expense of the HOA. It is now, and always
has been, irrigated by HOA wells. The park was designed for use by the residents and open tothe public. Under the guise of a cost saving measure in 2019 ownership was transferred from
the HOA to the City of Bozeman. The HOA received no compensation for the transfer ofownership. In fact costs to Harvest Creek property owners have increased by 180% because
we are now paying for the maintenance of both parks within our subdivision plus many othersubdivision parks within the city.
As a property owner adjoining the park I have the opportunity to observe our parks as they are
currently being used. The trail is a constant stream of parents with infants in strollers, joggers,walkers and runners with dogs, tiny children taking their first steps or learning to ride a
bicycle.What I also see are children dragging a net onto the grass so they can practice soccer. I see
them with nets chasing butterflies and bugs thru the grass, practicing cartwheels, practicingFrisbee golf, young men and teenagers throwing a football or baseball, couples enjoying a
picnic on a blanket under a tree, and in winter residents enjoy Nordic skiing. These activitieswill not be possible if the turf grasses are removed or no longer maintained.
The park is a feature of Harvest Creek where parents can let their children play freely. They donot need to be driven elsewhere or expected to cross West Oak, a very high traffic road. It is a
huge back yard that hundreds of families enjoy. The park was originally intended as an opengrass lawn and should continue to be enjoyed as such for appropriate activities.
Harvest Creek has specific construction, landscaping and maintenance standards which makeit a highly desirable subdivision. The City undoubtedly appreciates those standards in its tax
revenue from Harvest Creek properties.
As a former homeowner in Bridger Canyon and an active, award winning MSU ExtensionMaster Gardener of many years I would offer some recommendations for the proposed plan as
I understand it.The proposal is to create a10' wide, paved path thru Harvest Creek. That is the same width as
the traffic lanes on our county roads. Interstate highway lanes are generally 12' wide. Unlessmotorized vehicle traffic is anticipated to run thru the middle of Harvest Creek I suggest
reducing the path to 8' at its MAXIMUM. Widening the trail will also entail removal of a fairnumber of mature trees and a major encroachment on a number of properties unless a
complete relocation of the trail is intended.I suggest at least a 10' grass landscaped, irrigated, and mowed strip on both sides of the path to
provide a clean transition to any areas of native grasses.I recommend a 100' setback from the trail from each adjoining property line. It should be
landscaped, and mowed. The 100' buffer from the trail will provide some vestige of privacy
for homeowners. A 100' setback from grasses would provide the recommended andappropriate buffer for wildfire protection from native grasses. Those standards were required
in order to maintain property owners insurance in Bridger Canyon.A buffer of that size would further serve as a minimum of protection from noxious weeds and
animals. It will not prevent those incursions, it will only help. I am a huge proponent of native landscaping, but that does not exclude turf grasses where
appropriate. Native grasses are terrific but they are NOT maintenance free. They are subject toincursion by Canada thistle, knapweed, houndstongue, orange hawk weed, field bindweed,
and others. Introducing unmaintained native grasses further invites rodents such as mice,voles, and gophers. They are all destructive to homeowners landscaping, homes, and vehicles.
They also carry disease, some of which prove deadly.
Please provide the Harvest Creek HOA and each adjoining property owner with specificdetails of the proposed changes, the width and specific path location and the specific native
vegetation being considered. Please acknowledge and guarantee in writing the native vegetation will be set back from
homes and maintained so it does not create a fire hazard to any home in Harvest Creek.Introduction of any hazard can and will have a profound negative affect on homeowners
insurance. Invitation to rodents will create costly maintenance issues for homeowners.
Remember that native vegetation is a great investment but that does not mean it's maintenancefree. It must be irrigated, trimmed, and kept free of invasive weeds and rodents. The grasses
in Bridger Canyon were mostly native. We do not need to introduce that risk into the City ofBozeman.
My final recommendation is that the Harvest Creek park area remain as it was intended and is
currently used and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. The City must maintain itsresponsibility to property owners in keeping a safe and healthy environment.
It's not broken so don't try to fix it.
Sincerely,
Carolyn A. Fifer
1007 Buckrake AveBozeman. 59718