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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-13 GVLT Report1 GVLT Report to RPAB – Sept 2013 GVLT TRAILS PROGRAM Report to RPAB for Summer 2013 Submitted 9/5/2013 Projects in the City of Bozeman • Trail to the M. GVLT, Western Transportation Institute, City of Bozeman and Gallatin National Forest learned this summer that we have been approved for $2.8 million in funding for a paved, shared-use pathway connecting Main Street to the Mountains trails with the “M” and Drinking Horse Mountain trailheads. GVLT and partners will be applying to the TOP Committee for local matching funds this fall. • Highland Glen Nature Preserve. With the best turn-out at any National Trails Day event, over 200 volunteers helped GVLT kick off construction on the HGNP trails in June. We also used contractors to excavate steeper sections of trail, install three culverts, and improve gates and fencing. GVLT also completed new French drains at the Kagy crossing to connect the Painted Hills Trail with the new trails at HGNP, and the City has installed cross-walk signs. Now more than 5 miles of new trail are open to the public, thanks to our partnership with Bozeman Deaconess Health Services, City of Bozeman, and Bridger Ski Foundation. This trail project cost over $35,000 and funding came from private donors and a grant from REI. • Bozeman Pond. Using a Parkland Improvement Grant and funding from REI and Bozeman Area Community Foundation, GVLT completed a perimeter trail that takes in the entire Bozeman Pond park. We also used volunteers to resurface all of the trails at the park. We installed curb cuts, which were donated form A-Core to make the sidewalks and trail transitions more accessible. This fall, we will be installing a new culvert and completing our work at Bozeman Pond. • Signage. GVLT is systematically replacing trail kiosk signs throughout the trail system and installing new kiosks in several locations. New kiosk posters have been installed at 8 locations, including the base of Peets Hill (pictured) and we will be replacing additional signage next summer. We also used a volunteer to complete an inventory of all trail totems and will be replacing totems and signage this fall. 2 GVLT Report to RPAB – Sept 2013 • Volunteer Work Projects. GVLT has led 17 volunteer projects since June with more than 800 volunteer hours. Projects included resurfacing trails at Cooper Park and Bozeman Ponds, pulling weeds at Drinking Horse Mountain, Lindley Park, Burke Park, and Gallagator, and ongoing work at Highland Glen Nature Preserve. Volunteer groups included MSU, Up with People (pictured), Girls for Change, Hope Lutheran Church, United Methodist Church, YMCA, World Montana, and Mountain Sky Guest Ranch. Additional Projects • Triple Tree. This August, GVLT began rerouting the upper loop of the Triple Tree trail. One half of the trail loop was be closed at a time, so users could still access the top overlook. We expect construction to be complete by early September, when we will survey the trail and formalize a permanent trail easement with DNRC and Gallatin County. • Sourdough Canyon Trailhead. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has approved donating 1.3 acres of their conservation easement at the trailhead to GVLT, which GVLT will then donate, along with 5.9 acres of underlying fee land, to the US Forest Service. We expect the transaction to be complete this fall, and it will consolidate ownership at the trailhead to make long-term public access, management and maintenance more sustainable. GVLT succeeded in completing over $200,000 in improvements on the site since 2007, when the property was first donated to the land trust. • Regional Park Bridge. GVLT is installing a new bridge in the northwest corner of the Regional Park, connecting the Fowler right-of-way and Baxter Meadows subdivision (including Chief Joseph Middle School) to the Regional Park. The bridge structure is in place and we will complete the railing in September, in addition to completing some reseeding, signage, and other finishing touches.