Document Belgrade_doc_a8673ccc43

Prepared by: CTA Architects Eng ineers Prepared for: The City of Belg rade BELGRADE City of MONTANA December 2019 BELGR ADE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PL AN ---PAGE BREAK--- i City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 i Letter of Recommendation and Resolutions for Adoption of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan On September 10, 2019, the Belgrade Parks and Recreation Board recommended the Parks and Recreation Master Plan to the Belgrade City Council for approval. On Januar y 14th, 2020, the Gallatin County Commission adopted the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. On Januar y 21st, 2020, the Belgrade Mayor and City Council of the City of Belgrade adopted the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. ---PAGE BREAK--- ii City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 ii ---PAGE BREAK--- iii City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 iii ---PAGE BREAK--- iv City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 iv Acknowledg ments Grain Elevator City of Belg rade • Director of Public Works, Steve Klotz • Belgrade City Manager, Ted Barkley • Belgrade Planning, Jason Karp • Belgrade Park and Recreation Board, Adam Thuen, Keith Fuge, Diana Perr y, Jim Simon, Patrick Farretta • Belgrade City Council, Anne Koentopp, Ken Smith, Kristine Menicucci, Jim Doyle, Jim Simon, Brad Cooper Gallatin County Groups • Gallatin County Parks and Trails, Mike Harris • Gallatin Valley Land Trust, EJ Por th, Matt Marcinek Local Entities and Collaborative Groups • Belgrade School District, Paul Lamb • Bozeman Yellowstone International Airpor t, Brian Sprenger • River Rock HOA, Carrie O’Neil, HOA Board Members • Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, Kristi Gee, Local Businesses and Organizations • Belgrade Community Coalition, Tiffany Maierle, Ali Vasarelli, Kali Vergeront • Belgrade Community Market, Christine Stoppa Local Spor ts and Recreation Groups • AYSO Region 536, Jason Kovensky • Belgrade Youth Baseball, Jeremy Olson • Gallatin Valley Lacrosse, Lorelyn Mayr Master Plan Team from CTA Architects Eng ineers • Wayne Freeman, PLA • Stephanie Donovan, PLA, CPSI • Stephanie Ray, AICP • David Dixon, AICP We are grateful to the citizens and community groups who provided input, contributing to the vision for parks and pathways in Belgrade. The Master Plan is meant for city staff and community members alike. ---PAGE BREAK--- v City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 v EXECUTIVE COMMUNITY BACKGROUND & COMPARATIVE COMMUNITY NEEDS SITE INVENTORY, ASSESSMENT, & PROGRAM ASSESSMENT & OPERATIONAL & BUDGET GROWTH & CAPITAL FUNDING & COLLABORATION APPENDIX A: MARCH 2019 PUBLIC SURVEY APPENDIX B: FOCUS GROUP APPENDIX C: MAY 2019 PUBLIC SURVEY APPENDIX D: TYPICAL Lions Park TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 ap ---PAGE BREAK--- vi City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 vi Lewis and Clark Park ---PAGE BREAK--- 01 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 01 Purpose and Content The 2019 Belgrade Parks and Recreation Master Plan is a guiding document to achieve improved park and recreational facilities in the Greater Belgrade area for the next 10 years. The primar y goal of the Master Plan is to equip the City of Belgrade and local community organizations with a set of recommendations and maps as a tool for implementing change. The f indings of this document are derived from a community -based investigation — information discovered during assessment of recreational facilities and needs voiced during community outreach effor ts. Main deliverables of the Master Plan include: • Inventor y for repair and improvements to existing recreational facilities • Proposed recreational programs and events • Maps of identif ied future parks and pathways • Operational and budget recommendations • Prioritized needs and f inancial strategies A review of how much progress has been made on completing the Master Plan is recommended in 2024, and an update to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan is recommended in 2029. The Master Plan is meant to be a catalyst for change in Belgrade. The rapid grow th of Belgrade and the surrounding area has contributed to the creation of the its f irst Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Process Beginning in Februar y 2019, data for the Master Plan document was derived from the following investigations: inventor y and assessment of existing conditions, engagement with the public and community groups, and population projections based on the 2019 Grow th Policy, which was developed simultaneously with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Strategies and methods to achieve the f inancial, operational, and capital improvement recommendations was the f inal step in the Master Plan. Figure 1 graphically summarizes the planning process: Main outcomes and f indings of the Master Plan Water Tower 01. E XECUTIVE SUMMARY ---PAGE BREAK--- 02 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 02 A. COMMUNIT Y BACKGROUND & COMPAR ATIVE ANALYSIS Belgrade has a growing and young population. • Belgrade population is expected to expand to 10.423 people in 2020 and somewhere between 13,795 and 14,703 people in 2030. • The largest age groups in Belgrade are people aged 20 to 39 and children under 15 years of age. • 38% of Belgrade residents commuted to Bozeman for work in 2015. • An estimated 21,000 people live in the school Fig ure 1: Diag ram of park planning process. Where are we now? COMMUNIT Y DEMOGR APHIC & COMPAR ATIVE ANALYSIS SITE INVENTORY & ASSE SSMENT PROGR AM INVENTORY Where are we going? PUBLIC SURVEY, MEETINGS NATIONAL, STATE, LOCAL TRENDS ASSE SSMENT AND GOAL SETTING How do we get there? NEEDS PRIORITIZATION BUDGET & OPER ATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FUNDING & COLL ABOR ATION STR ATEGIE S Summar y of Key Findings and Key Recommendations The City of Belgrade has approximate 112 acres of parkland, with some nearby county parks. Pedestrian and bicycle paths are ver y limited. Interstate 90 and the railroad bisect the city, causing traff ic congestion, and noise. However, there are notable views of the Bridger Mountains from many areas in Belgrade and existing parks in most neighborhoods. Community involvement was the most signif icant inf luence for the recommendations in the Master Plan. The “Community Needs Assessment” chapter feeds into subsequent chapters. After a series of meetings with local groups and organizations, a public online sur vey, and public meetings, community feedback was integrated into the park and recreation assessments. A draft of the Master Plan was provided to the public in May 2019, and after incorporating additional comments, revisions were made and the plan was f inalized in June 2019. ---PAGE BREAK--- 03 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 03 district and come to Belgrade for events and activities. Parks, trails, and programs will need to be strategically planned to accommodate an increased population and weighted towards the largest age groups. Due to a need for more businesses and density downtown and a high level of commuters entering Belgrade, it is clear that park and recreation funding will need to shift accordingly. Existing planning documents for or relating to Belgrade provide some background about parks and recreation in the area. Compared to other communities, Belgrade is falling shor t in budget and staff ing. Nationally and in Montana, popular activities are walking, biking and trail use, water play, and playground use. Outdoor recreation spending accounts for approximately 18% of consumer spending in Montana. In addition to community input, national and state trends can help predict future recreational programming needs in Belgrade. B. COMMUNIT Y NEEDS ASSE SSMENT Information was collected from a public sur vey, public meetings, and focus groups in March 2019 to assess community needs. Trends from the multiple choice questions of the public sur vey are: • Respondents are visiting Belgrade parks to warrant increased investment • Park visitors are likely to be social and stay long enough to use the restroom • 41% of respondents said they usually walk to a park and are more likely to visit a park if they live nearby one • 86% responded that they would contribute $1-30 or more to a park maintenance district and are willing to tr y a variety of funding strategies • 86% of respondents would contribute to a tree fund for increased trees in Belgrade Main themes from open-ended questions in the public sur vey and focus group discussions include: • Increased connectivity across the community, additional spor ts f ields • More enter tainment and community programs • A swimming pool • A versatile indoor community space • Improved park amenities • A variety of funding ideas In May 2019, a second public sur vey was launched to conf irm public opinion on the results of the March 2019 sur vey. The results of the second sur vey showed public desire for recreational programming, a parks district, and a parks depar tment C. SITE INVENTORY, ASSE SSMENT, AND RECOMMENDATIONS Belgrade parks were assessed through mapping park ser vice areas, playgrounds, and regulation playing f ields to see if they were geographically equitable across the city. Fewer parks, playgrounds, and playing f ields were found on the west side of the city, which informed the proposed parks and pathways map. Through f ield obser vations, the park amenities were inventoried and each park was assessed individually. Recommendations were prioritized in Chapter 7, Grow th and Capital Improvements. Recommendations for most parks included safe crossings and sidewalks, inspection from a Cer tif ied Playground Safety Inspector with correction for compliance, signage, bike racks, and trail connection. Belgrade has several parks with mailboxes that could be better accessed and landscaped as a feature. The Proposed City of Belgrade Parks and Pathways Map illustrates additional trails and sidewalks, a dog park, and linear parks. Linking parks and developments was achieved through a looped shared use pathway around the perimeter of the city. As Belgrade is in an interdependent region, trails and river access were explored past the city limits. Trail access to the Gallatin River, Bridger Mountain trailheads, and nearby communities were proposed on the Proposed Regional Parks and Pathways Map. The Great American Rail Trail is planned to pass through Belgrade, and a proposed route is shown on the regional map. With anticipated future grow th, park and trail design resources are listed. D. PROGR AMS ASSE SSMENT & VISION The Belgrade Parks and Recreation Program does not currently offer any programs or events, but needs for programs were found in the sur vey results and from conversations in focus groups. Cultural events in Belgrade like the Farmer’s Market and the Festival of Lights are hosted by local non-prof its or local organizations, and can be used as a star ting point for determining what programs or events are missing in the community and could be offered by the Parks and Recreation Depar tment. A parks director and maintenance staff is recommended to be hired to begin a parks ---PAGE BREAK--- 04 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 04 Proposed City of Belgrade Parks and Pathways Map JACKRABBIT LN JACKRABBIT LN ALASKA RD ALASKA RD AIRPORT RD AIRPORT RD SPOONER RD SPOONER RD AMSTERDAM RD AMSTERDAM RD INTERSTATE 90 INTERSTATE 90 RAILROAD RAILROAD DRY CREEK RD DRY CREEK RD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD MAIN STREET MAIN STREET BROADWAY BROADWAY ---PAGE BREAK--- 05 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 05 9.6 miles to Manhattan 19.6 miles to Madison River To Bozeman 9 miles to Amsterdam -Churchill 7.6 miles to Four Corners 25 miles to Madison River 11 .3 miles to Middle Cottonwood Trailhead 11 .5 miles to Sypes Canyon Trailhead 13.3 miles to Truman Gulch Trailhead Proposed Regional Parks and Pathways Map *Parks and pathways outside of city limits are outside of the impact fee area. JACKRABBIT LN JACKRABBIT LN SPOONER RD SPOONER RD INTERSTATE 90 INTERSTATE 90 RAILROAD RAILROAD FRONTAGE ROAD FRONTAGE ROAD GALLATIN RIVER GALLATIN RIVER AMSTERDAM RD AMSTERDAM RD E VALLEY CENTER ROAD E VALLEY CENTER ROAD ---PAGE BREAK--- 06 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 06 depar tment. Newly launched event programs are suggested, including a family event, an outdoor movie series, an after school program, senior focused programs, adult spor t leagues, f itness program, summer youth camps, special events for youth focused on outdoor education, a dog- friendly event, and winter spor ts. Other programs and campaigns suggested include park amenity campaigns, tobacco-free parks, national park programs, and walking programs. The new director is recommended to form a marketing plan and lead the creation of department goals and objectives to achieve the successful launch of programs. E. OPER ATIONAL AND BUDGET ASSE SSMENT Belgrade parks are maintained by the Public Works Depar tment. After the formation of a parks depar tment, additional ser vices and management plans are recommended to be put into place. With a dedicated park staff member preparing proposals for park and trail improvements, substantial revenue could be gained through applying for matching grants from a parks district and philanthropists. Consultants are recommended to be hired to complete feasibility studies, park designs, trail designs, and recreational facilities. F. GROW TH AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Belgrade is expected to keep growing and expanding. Economic studies show the positive effect of parks and trails on nearby users, and should always coincide with new development. According to Headwaters Economics, a independent, nonprof it research group, trails can benef it businesses through increased revenue and jobs, consumers through intrinsic value of a trail, proper ty owners through increase proper ty values, and residents through adjacent trail access. As Belgrade and the surrounding areas are growing, it is expected that a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will form. MPOs receive federal transpor tation funding, which could benef it trails and the connection of parks. When an MPO forms, recommended actions relating to parks and recreation include: • Establishing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisor y Committees (BPAC) • Following “Complete Streets” • Developing a bicycle master plan • Coordinating on parks and recreation with neighboring cities Capital improvements and maintenance was prioritized into critical, shor t-term, and long-term recommendations. Cost estimates were provided for each park, trail connections, and safe crossings. Belgrade has ver y limited park requirements for subdivisions, and currently no subdivision regulations for trails exist. Zoning regulations relating to parks, trails, and landscaping should be updated. Recommended subdivision regulations include: • New developments are required to follow the Belgrade Parks and Recreation Master Plan, including the placement and development of trails and parks • Require minimum improvements for parks and trails including irrigation and planting • Form a Belgrade Park and Trail Committee to review parks and trails in new subdivisions to ensure compliance with the Master Plan and recent standards for park and trail design • Require higher quality open space standards, and restrict cer tain areas from becoming a par t of the required park area, such as stormwater collection areas, f loodplains, or other environmentally sensitive areas • Tighten regulations to reduce the number of cash in lieu transactions • Bolster landscaping requirements in municipal code, including boulevard landscaping and streetscaping for subdivisions and commercial projects • Create standard planting and irrigation details for city projects • Require more stringent application requirements, including documentation and drawings for park and trail designs • Require professional stamps on drawings for parks and trails • Transfer scanned pages of municipal code to digitally searchable format on website • Provide recommended street tree list, while testing tree species sur vival and condition at Belgrade parks G. FUNDING AND COLL ABOR ATION STR ATEGIE S To meet maintenance and development needs of the parks and trail system, major steps need to be taken to fund a parks depar tment and the planned improvements. A large number of people living outside city limits travel to Belgrade and use the parks but are not paying taxes toward park upkeep. The formation of a parks district is recommended ---PAGE BREAK--- 07 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 07 to f inancially suppor t existing parks and to acquire land for new parks and recreation facilities. A parks district could f inancially suppor t the hiring of a parks and recreation director and maintenance staff, who could in turn establish a revenue f low through programming. Precedence for a parks district in Montana exists in Billings, Great Falls, and Colstrip. In early 2019, the approximate total of assessed proper ty value in the Belgrade School district was $2,450,110,999, which includes both residential and commercial proper ties. The estimated revenue is a potential base annual revenue from a parks district, amounts which could be eligible for matching grants and bonds. Proper ty Value $30 annual fee $40 annual fee $50 annual fee $150,000 $490,022 $653,363 $816,704 $200,000 $367,517 $490,022 $612,528 $250,000 $294,013 $392,018 $490,022 Potential base revenue amounts from a parks distr ict Proposed Parks District In Belgrade and the surrounding area, a public education campaign could inform the public of the proposed district projects and the potential f inancial capacity. The Proposed Parks District matches the footprint of the school district, which includes county land. Exact boundaries should be studied for feasibility and vetted in a public process. Par tnership between the City of Belgrade and Gallatin County would be advised for the long- term future of a parks district. If a parks district was established, a parks district board would be formed, and a Gallatin County representative is recommended to par ticipate on the board. ---PAGE BREAK--- 08 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 08 people in 2030. Implications of a growing population are increased parks and recreation programs to accommodate more people, strategically located and sized parks in relation to the density of new housing developments, and accommodations for increased visits to the most popular parks holding large community events. AGE When it come to age, Belgrade has a considerable number of young people. Belgrade has a younger median age (32.9) compared to Gallatin County As a part of mapping the future of Belgrade Parks and Recreation, the local community was studied from a demographic and comparative perspective to provide context and inform the results from community outreach effor ts. Current and projected demographic data for Belgrade was studied to f ind trends and population characteristics that could inf luence the Master Plan. The existing park and trail system is identif ied along with relevant recreation data in local planning documents. Comparing the existing Belgrade park system and operations with similar communities provides insight into areas where goals and benchmarks could be raised. Using recognized national and state data about parks and recreation reveals how Belgrade’s matches up to accepted recreation standards. Overall this chapter provides background information that suppor ts the community outreach process and recommendations for Belgrade parks and pathways. Demog raphic Analysis For Belgrade citizens, it is well known that their city has seen large grow th over the years. As the population grows, it’s impor tant to understand age, employment, and economic factors to plan for parks and recreation. POPUL ATION Belgrade is in the top f ive of the fastest growing populations in Montana, along with Whitef ish, Kalispell, Bozeman, and Manhattan. The 2010 census repor ted a population of 7,389 in Belgrade, and the estimated grow th rate is 14.7% from 2010 to 2017. The estimated 2017 population of Belgrade is 8,556. Persons in each household from 2013 to 2017 is 2.65, almost matching the 2017 U.S. average of 2.6 persons per household. According to the 2019 Grow th Policy, the Belgrade population is expected to expand to 10.423 people in 2020 and somewhere between 13,795 and 14,703 Clarkin Park Sign 02. COMMUNIT Y BACKGROUND & COMPAR ATIVE ANALYSIS Studying community character istics, compar ing Belg rade park data to similar communities, and identif ying park and recreation trends ---PAGE BREAK--- 09 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 09 motorized improvements. 2010 GALL ATIN COUNT Y PARKS AND TR AILS COMPREHENSIVE PL AN Gallatin County created a parks and trails document that identif ies potential trail connections and facilities in or near Belgrade, summarizes sur vey results about county parks and trails, and describes focus group discussions. Highlights include: • The 2010 sur vey found that 49.91% of respondents say lack of f ield space is the biggest issue with parks and that they would prefer to link future trails to trails they currently use. • Sur vey respondents repor t they use trails primarily for recreation and not transpor tation, and 80% of respondents use rural roads for recreation. • Better recreation connectivity from outside subdivisions into Belgrade noted as a priority. Trail connections and facilities listed in the county plan are considered in the Belgrade par ts and pathways Master Plan. GALL ATIN TRIANGLE PL ANNING STUDY (2014) Due to grow th in the Belgrade and Bozeman region, this study identif ies existing and proposed par tnerships between governments and local organizations. Regional collaboration is stressed. Under the list of existing partnerships, no park or trail related agreements were noted. However, grow th policies for cities in the region identif y the need for open space and public park lands. BELGR ADE TO BOZEMAN FRONTAGE ROAD CORRIDOR STUDY (2017) The study examined Frontage Road improvements between Belgrade and Bozeman. Suppor t was (34.1) and the State of Montana (39.8). The largest age groups in Belgrade are people aged 20 to 39 and children under 15 years of age. These trends indicate that the number and type of recreational facilities and programs could be weighted towards the largest age groups. ECONOMY Belgrade’s economy has a histor y of agriculture and a culture of commuters, who benef it from close proximity to the airport, Bozeman, and recreational resources. Employment areas in Belgrade are clustered in the city core, schools, the airpor t, and busy roads like Jackrabbit Road. However, in 2015 an estimated 38% of Belgrade residents commuted to Bozeman for work. An estimated 21,000 people live in the school district, which means many people are coming into town for events and activities. The 2019 Grow th Policy recommends putting effor ts toward a more dense and walkable downtown that satisf ies unmet needs and better balances living and working in Belgrade, which would lead to improved quality of city parks. Relating to parks and recreation funding, the people who come into Belgrade city limits are using parks but are not taxed on park maintenance or expansion. If steps are taken to improve tourism and business downtown as the 2010 Grow th Policy suggests, then there will be in increase in use and demand for parks. Information was gathered from US Census Bureau and the 2019 Grow th Policy. Existing Planning Documents and Local Studies This document is the f irst Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the City of Belgrade. To gain an understanding of existing local efforts and visions for parks and non-motorized pathways in the Belgrade area, many existing planning documents and studies relating to parks and were examined. 2017 BELGR ADE LONG R ANGE TR ANSPORTATION PL AN (LRTP) Existing and proposed non-motorized pathways were mapped and assessed in the 2017 Belgrade Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Main recommendations regarding pedestrian and bicycle paths were identif ied: • Belgrade has limited bike and pedestrian facilities, and there are several oppor tunities for improvement (page 23) • Walking and biking pathways can be improved or added to connect to the Streamline bus stop at Smith and Missoula (page 25) • Much of the major street network does not have on-street bicycle facilities and has a poor score for traff ic stress (page 36) • Non-motorized crashes were primarily at intersections on Belgrade’s ar terial and collector streets. Future improvements could include a focus on intersection safety and bicycle boulevards and ar terial crossings on local streets (page 42) Specif ic improvements for sidewalks, bike lanes, and underpasses are listed in the LRTP and integrated into the parks and pathways maps. General guidelines for transpor tation demand management and traff ic calming are described in the LRTP, which are impor tant to properly designing and implementing the Master Plan. The LRTP mentions the likelihood of Bozeman and Belgrade area becoming a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which could f inancially suppor t non- ---PAGE BREAK--- 010 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 010 expressed for a shared-use path between Belgrade and Bozeman in public meetings. References to parks or a pathway included: • Recommended investigation to determine the feasibility of installing a shared use path along Frontage Road • Recommended reconstruction of Frontage Road to include one travel lane in each direction with a center-turning lane and 8 -foot shoulders, regardless if there is a separated path • Land acquisition, easements, and coordination with the railroad is needed to build a separated shared- use path • 12 crash histor y repor ts from 2010 to 2015 at Oregon Street and Main near Lewis and Clark Park • Lewis and Clark Park is protected under 4(f) and 6(f) of the US Depar tment of Transpor tation Act of 1966. Federally funded transpor tation projects cannot impact Section 4(f)-protected proper ties The Belgrade/Bozeman/Gallatin County Planning Coordination Committee (PCC) is actively creating policies to require bicycle pathways and trail connections. The shared-use path will be included in the Master Plan. BELGR ADE SCHOOL DISTRIC T MASTER PL AN DR AF T Items relating to recreation and pathway connections in the school master plan include: • Walkable neighborhood schools is listed as a goal • Site development costs are estimated in the cost analysis sections, but off-site improvements are excluded Pedestrian and bicycle connections are not noted in the mapping exercise of the school district. BELGR ADE COMMERCIAL CENTER URBAN RENEWAL DISTRIC T PLAN The City of Belgrade plans to create an Urban Renewal District (URD) to revitalized the downtown. The proposed boundaries of the URD include Lewis and Clark Park, Clarkin Park, and Triangle Park. Under §7-12- 4101, and §7-12- 4102, MCA, cities and towns can create special improvement districts for a number of activities including the acquisition and improvement of land to be designated as public park or open-space land. Comparative Analysis of Similar Communities Estimated park data in Figure 2 was collected from Montanan communities that are similar to Belgrade in population for a comparative analysis. Belgrade offers more parkland acres than the national average, but less parkland than similar cities in Montana. Belgrade’s total park expenditures per capita per parkland acre are below the national average and lags behind comparable cities by more than half in most cases. Full-time equivalent employees (FTE) for Belgrade parks is far below the national average and similar Montanan communities. It is recommended that Belgrade increase expenditures and FTE to match their community counterpar ts before acquiring more parkland. Trends in Park and Recreation Par ticipation Studying par ticipation trends is important to gain insight into potential lifecycles of park facilities and programs. By anticipating changes in needs or demand, programs and activities can be launched, phased out, or adjusted accordingly. National results may not ref lect state or local data, but are a good starting point for knowing general sentiment and cultural values. Some major sources of data related to parks and recreation are: • National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) • Spor ts and Fitness Industr y Association (SFIA) • Project Play by the Aspen Institute • Physical Activity Council (PAC) NRPA U.S. Average Belgrade, Montana Livingston, Montana Whitef ish, Montana Lewistown, Montana Population (estimated 2017) - 8,556 7,529 7,608 5,918 Total Parkland in Acres - 111.94 170.00 138.6 200 Parkland Acres per 1,000 Residents 10.1 13.08 22.58 18.22 33.79 Total Expenditures (Fiscal Year 2019) $3,834,500 $289,550 $568,507 $1,802,987 xx Capital Outlay (Fiscal Year 2019) - $151,301 $9,000 $214,667 xx Operating Expenditures per Capita $78.69 $33.84 $75.51 $236.96 xx Total Expenditures per Parkland Acre $6,750 $2,586.65 $3,344.16 $13,008.56 xx Full-time Equivalent Employees per 10,000 residents 8.3 1.17 5.57 15.77 xx Fig ure 2: Belg rade park data compared to national averages and similar cities. Sources: 2019 NRPA Agency Performance Review, Park And Recreation Agency Performance Benchmarks 2018 NRPA Americans’ Engagement With Parks Repor t ---PAGE BREAK--- 011 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 011 NATIONAL PARTICIPATORY TRENDS IN RECREATION The average American visits their local park and recreation facilities 27 times a year according to the 2018 Americans’ Engagement with Parks Repor t, sur vey results produced by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The repor t found that most people visit parks to be with family or friends and to exercise and be physically active. Having a nearby park, playground, open space or recreation center was an impor tant factor in deciding where to live for 85% of respondents. As seen in Figure 3, for 74% of Americans, the most popular park and recreation activity is to visit a local park, playground, dog park, or some other local open space. Hiking, biking, or walking on a local trail was the second most popular response at 51%. More than nine in 10 Americans agree that parks and recreation is an impor tant local government ser vice At a national level, parks and recreation are strongly suppor ted and sought after. According to the Spor ts and Fitness Industr y Association (SFIA), the activity with the highest par ticipation is f itness walking. Recently, f itness tracking devices have grown in popularity. Par ticipation continues to grow slowly in outdoor and adventure activities such as day hiking and traditional climbing. The 2018 Outdoor Par ticipation Repor t found that running, jogging, and trail running were the most popular outdoor activities, followed by various types of f ishing at 17%, various types of biking at 16%, and hiking at 15%. Spending related to outdoor recreation activities has increased recently, more than f itness and spor ts related spending. Overall in the U.S., outdoor recreation has a steady par ticipation rate without a major prevalence in one activity. Youth par ticipation in spor ts is tracked by the Aspen Institute through Project Play. Their repor t, State of Play 2018 Trends and Developments, found that children aged 6 to 12 are steadily becoming more active. In 2017, the SFIA found that 17% of children were sedentar y, compared to 19.5% in 2014. In the same age group, children play an average of 1.85 team sports in 2017, down from 2.11 spor ts in 2011, indicating that families are often under pressure to focus on one spor t for their child. Fewer kids in homes with incomes of less than $25,000 are par ticipating in spor ts. While trends are promising that children are becoming more active, equity remains an issue. The Physical Activity Council (PAC) annually tracks American par ticipation and inactivity through a sur vey. In the 2019 Physical Activity Council’s Over view Repor t on U.S. Participation, par ticipation rates in physical activity are steady and f itness and outdoor based activities have increased the most since 2013. Over a quar ter of Americans repor ted inactivity since 2013. Of the respondents to the SFIA sur vey, 43% said f itness or spor ts would be more enjoyable if there were someone to take par t with, and 31.3% said non-par ticipants would engage in physical activities if a friend joined. The PAC found that soccer, camping, stand-up paddling, bicycling, and bird/wildlife viewing are the top interests in various age groups. From the repor ts, it is clear that physical activity is steady, often a social activity, and interests change with age. Fig ure 3: Amer ican’s Favor ite Park and Recreation Activities from the 2018 Amer icans’ Engagement with Parks Repor t, by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). ---PAGE BREAK--- 012 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 012 Information was gathered from the 2018 NRPA Americans’ Engagement with Parks Repor t, the 2018 Outdoor Participation Repor t, the State of Play 2018 Trends and Developments, and the 2019 Physical Activity Council’s Over view Repor t on U.S. Par ticipation. MONTANA TRENDS IN RECREATION The 2014-2018 Montana Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) “advocates for proactive and engaged interagency coordination, cooperation and ser vice provision for recreation” in the State of Montana. The plan describes outdoor recreation in Montana as diverse, nationally known and attractive to tourists, and vital to state and local economies. Close access to outdoor recreation draws many people and keeps them living in Montana. Meanwhile, recreation providers are facing growing demand, decreasing or f lat lining budgets, backlogged maintenance, and a lack of interagency coordination. In 2012, a sur vey was sent to recreation managers at the federal, state, and local levels in Montana about their facilities. Key results are listed in the SCORP, including: • 51.4% of managers indicated walking, jogging, and biking paths should be increased, and 4 of 6 top needed facilities were related to trails for hiking or biking • Adding new bike facilities was a top desire of managers, including bike lanes mountain bike trails and BMX and mountain bike skill parks (26.5) • Water resources were indicated as facilities in high demand, including water access boat launches splash/spray decks and water parks (26.0%) • For quality of facilities, 90% of managers rated golf courses as good to ver y good, followed by football f ields baseball f ields and softball f ields (59%) • Poor to fair condition of spor ts facilities that managers rated included basketball cour ts tennis cour ts and soccer f ields (41%) • Managers rated playgrounds, hiking/biking trails, and aquatic facilities as top needed facilities for youth • Top needed facilities for adults, seniors, and ADA accessibility were hiking/biking trails and campgrounds • 90% of managers said their funding stayed the same or decreased, and 10% of managers said their funding increased For Montanan par ticipation trends, active team spor ts are popular for young adults, activities that require equipment like hunting, snow spor ts, and OHV are popular among middle age adults,and more passive activities like walking, f ishing, gardening and golf are popular among adults 50 and over. Montanans par ticipate in f ishing and hunting activities more than the national level, but participation is generally declining. Due to higher par ticipation in these recreational activities and Montana‘s weather and landscape, Montana is a top state for fatalities related to avalanches and boating. The SCORP lists sur vey results from Montana residents gain an understanding of outdoor recreation preferences: • 88% of Montana residents par ticipated in any form of outdoor recreation in the past 12 months • The top statewide need repor ted by all residents to View of Bridger Mountains near Cruiser Lane ---PAGE BREAK--- 013 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 013 • Belgrade’s population has rapidly outgrown it’s current park and recreation capacity, budget, and operations. • Trail use is popular at the national and state level, and Belgrade lags behind in trail access and availability. • Projected grow th positions Belgrade in a place for needing increased and improved park and recreation space, and could benef it from recreation tourism in Montana. SUMMARY Top 10 Facilities and Recreation Areas used by Montanan Households in 2012 77% Walking/Jogging/Biking Paths 72% Hiking Trails 62% Picnic Areas 60% Heritage/Historic Areas 59% Campground without hook-ups 58% Natural or Wild Areas 58% Scenic By ways 55% Wildlife Viewing Areas 43% Motorized Boating Areas the sur vey is bike lanes, followed by rife/handgun ranges, off-road ATV trails, and sledding/tubing areas. • A quar ter of Montana households used sledding/ tubing areas and 21% used cross-countr y skiing and snowshoe trails in the winter months As budgets decrease, par tnerships with other agencies become more impor tant. Recreation manager indicated they would be more likely to collaborate with local level groups than federal agencies. The SCORP lists the federal, state, and local agencies involved with parks and recreation, ser ving as a good resource for the City of Belgrade to form future par tnerships and f inancial strategies. Both residents and tourists support the economic sector of outdoor recreation, which is 18% of total consumer spending in Montana. Existing Parks and Trail Systems The City of Belgrade has approximately 112 acres of parkland, with some nearby county parks. Pedestrian and bicycle paths are ver y limited. Interstate 90 and the railroad bisect the city, causing traff ic congestion, noise, and unattractive views. Despite this, the highway provides easy travel access in and out of town, and railroad offers economic oppor tunity. See the following pages for existing parks and trails in and around Belgrade. See Chapter 3 Site Inventor y and Assessment for analysis of individual parks and the park system. Fig ure 4: 2012 SCORP sur vey question result Local Silos ---PAGE BREAK--- 014 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 014 MAIN STREET MAIN STREET JACKRABBIT LN JACKRABBIT LN ALASKA RD ALASKA RD AIRPORT RD AIRPORT RD SPOONER RD SPOONER RD AMSTERDAM RD AMSTERDAM RD INTERSTATE 90 INTERSTATE 90 RAILROAD RAILROAD BROADWAY BROADWAY DRY CREEK RD DRY CREEK RD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD Ryen Glenn Park Belgrade Youth Sports Complex Lions Park Kiwanis Park Prescott Park Kathy Hollensteiner Memorial Park Quinella Park Clarkin Park McMillan Park Children’s Park Winter Park Lewis and Clark Park Triangle Park Memorial Park Prairie View Park Miller Park Sunnyside Park Las Campanas Park Existing City of Belgrade Parks and Pathways ---PAGE BREAK--- 015 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 015 Cameron Bridge Cherry River Erwin Bridge *Parks and pathways outside of city limits are outside of the impact fee area. Existing Regional Parks and Pathways *Parks and pathways outside of city limits are outside of the impact fee area. JACKRABBIT LN JACKRABBIT LN SPOONER RD SPOONER RD INTERSTATE 90 INTERSTATE 90 RAILROAD RAILROAD FRONTAGE ROAD FRONTAGE ROAD GALLATIN RIVER GALLATIN RIVER AMSTERDAM RD AMSTERDAM RD E VALLEY CENTER ROAD E VALLEY CENTER ROAD ---PAGE BREAK--- 016 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 016 Information about community needs was collected from an online public sur vey, focus groups, and public meetings. The needs are assessed by recognizing trends and high priorities, identif ied as par t of this outreach effor t and are highlighted in this chapter. Specif ic suggestions from the public are organized into respective topics in chapters 4- 8. Full sur vey results are listed in Appendix A, and notes from focus groups are listed in Appendix B. Sur vey Process Data relating to parks and trails was collected from an online sur vey, which was available to the public from March 14, 2019 - April 12, 2019. The sur vey included questions relating to both the 2019 Grow th Policy and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, but only parks and recreation questions are discussed as par t of this plan. The sur vey was comprised of multiple choice questions and open-end questions. Content of questions was based on: • National standards from the National Recreation Fig ure 5: Example question in mobile for mat. Online sof tware used for the online sur vey was Poll Ever ywhere. and Park Association (NRPA) • Preliminar y conversations with the community and early assessment of park maps • Known operational and budget data Multiple Choice Question Results Many of the multiple choice questions were created to gain an understanding of where citizens are going for recreation, how the public uses Belgrade parks, how people travel to the parks, and how the parks can be funded. WHERE ARE PEOPLE RECREATING? During the warm months, approximately 27% of respondents said they are recreating in Belgrade when they are not at home, work, or school during the warm months, and approximately 20% recreate in Belgrade during the cold months. A signif icant amount of respondents are recreating in Bozeman or elsewhere in Montana. Despite under 30% of citizens recreating outside of Belgrade, there is a 03. COMMUNIT Y NEEDS ASSE SSMENT Listening to the public voice to f ind trends, high pr ior ities, and ways to connect g roups with similar effor ts. ---PAGE BREAK--- 017 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 017 or improved playgrounds or specialized play area” followed by restrooms at 13% and pet friendliness at 11%. Some conclusions from these responses are that park visitors are likely to be social in the parks, desire more and improved play areas, stay long enough to use the restroom, and are more likely to visit a park if they live nearby one. HOW ARE PEOPLE GETTING TO THE PARKS? Results showed 2 out of 4 respondents are within walking distance to a park, whereas 3 out of 4 Americans say they live within walking distance of a park or recreational facility. When asked how you travel to Belgrade parks, 41% of respondents said they usually walk to a park, 49% usually drive to a park, and the remainder travel to a park by some other means. As new parks in Belgrade are developed and constructed, the number of people within walking distance of a park is expected to increase. considerable number of citizens visiting Belgrade parks. Only 8% of respondents have never been to a Belgrade park. About 46% of respondents visit Belgrade parks 1-5 times per year, and 54% visit Belgrade parks 6+ times per year. Approximately 12% of respondents visit Belgrade parks 50+ times per year. Almost half (42%) of respondents say they use private proper ty or school f ields for recreation. The frequency of visits to the City’s parks is substantial to warrant continued investment and improvement of the parks. HOW ARE PEOPLE USING BELGR ADE PARKS? Nearly half (44%) of respondents answered that they visit parks in Belgrade to spend time with family or friends. When asked what mostly affects how much you use the parks in Belgrade, the park’s activities or facilities was selected by 44% of respondents, followed by proximity at 26% and dog-friendliness at 13%. When asked what types of amenities are most needed in the parks, 16% responded with “More In addition to federal, state, and grant funding, what strategy would you suppor t the most to fund park and trail improvements? Respondents Response Percent a. Park Maintenance District 269 51.04% b. Non-prof it fundraising 268 50.85% c. Private-public Par tnerships 236 44.78% d. Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Trail programs 264 50.09% e. Sponsorship through adver tising 218 41.37% f. Facility rental fees 214 40.61% g. Volunteers 227 43.07% h. Sales tax 206 39.09% i. Revenue from concessions 217 41.18% Fig ure 6: Results of the park and trail funding question HOW CAN THE PARKS BE FUNDED? Various strategies for park funding were presented to the public in one of the sur vey questions, see Figure 6. Most responded “All of the above,” while a park maintenance district and non-prof it fundraising were the next most popular response, both at 13%. Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Trail was selected by 12% of respondents. When it comes to adding trees, an over whelming 74% responded that they would contribute to a tree fund to plant more trees in Belgrade. When asked, “How much would you be willing to contribute to a Park Maintenance District per year to fund park and trail improvements?” 86% responded that they would contribute $1-30 or more, while only 14% of respondents said they would contribute Approximately 20% responded that they would contribute more than $30 annually. This percentage of suppor t to fund park projects speaks strongly of the community commitment to local recreation and trail connectivity of Belgrade. Open-ended Question Results Two open-ended questions were put in the sur vey to allow citizens the opportunity to voice additional thoughts and opinions. The questions were: • What programs, events, or facilities do you think Belgrade Parks and Recreation should offer? • Any other thoughts on grow th or parks and recreation facilities? Suggestions ranged from one- word requests for a pool, to paragraphs explaining specif ic situations. Main themes included: • Enter tainment and Programs • Trails and Sidewalks ---PAGE BREAK--- 018 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 018 • Swimming and Water Play • Indoor Community Space • Park Activities and Amenities • Funding ENTERTAINMENT AND PROGR AMS From outdoor movies to new sports leagues, many respondents voiced the need for things to do in Belgrade. Family activities and youth programs comprised a large number of responses. Descriptions of family activities included events and recreational activities such as riding bikes together. Bowling, family days or nights, roller skating, and outdoor movies were among the ideas for community gatherings. Activities for children was stressed as a substantial need in the responses. Summer camps, classes, spor t lessons and leagues, educational events, crafts, after school programs, and workshops were suggested ideas for youth programs. Outdoor music was mentioned approximately 43 times in the responses, as well as suggestions for concer t venues and theater. Several existing events were mentioned, such as the farmer’s market, the Festival of Lights, and Fall Festival. Respondents suggested new events ideas such as fairs, car shows, races, competitions, and block par ties. Food trucks, concessions, and bathrooms were described alongside the event requests. Enter tainment and programs needs were the most described by the community. Existing community events have much suppor t, but the responses make it clear that more and improved events are needed in Belgrade. TR AILS AND SIDEWALKS Bike lanes, walking paths, sidewalks, or trails were mentioned approximately 103 times out of 375 open- ended responses. Repeat suggestions about internal pathways included installing sidewalks where none exist in neighborhoods, improving or adding bike lanes, and separating trails from busy roads or widening shoulders. Requests were made to connect areas within or near Belgrade, and destinations included subdivisions, parks, schools, downtown, workplaces and businesses, and recreation facilities. Several traff ic comments relating to trails were made about grow th happening without necessar y infrastructure updates, requests for developers to install parks and connecting pathways, lack of safety while walking or biking, and traff ic congestion. Some recommendations in the Belgrade Long Range Transportation Plan were repeated in the responses, which included creating safe paths along ar terial roads, constructing an underpass at the downtown railroad crossing, handicap accessibility, and more stop lights. Specif ic areas were mentioned, such as River Rock subdivision and its main roads as needing a safe pathway. Trails connecting Belgrade to surrounding communities such as Bozeman, Three Forks, and Manhattan was noted. A trail connecting Belgrade and Bozeman along Frontage road was specif ically described, and the Belgrade / Bozeman / Gallatin County Planning Coordination Committee is currently suppor ting effor ts to install the connection. Nordic trails or cross-countr y ski trails were listed as a desired recreational oppor tunity. Trails and sidewalks were one of the most popular topic in the open-ended responses, which demonstrates a likelihood that future pathway projects will be backed by the community. SWIMMING AND WATER PL AY A pool was mentioned 83 times out of 375 open- ended responses. Reoccurring feedback about the pool included requests for year-round access and a facility that has an indoor and outdoor pool. Some responses mentioned a swim center, and the Belgrade Aquatic Center is currently fundraising for an indoor swimming facility, which is envisioned to provide recreational and competition level swimming. The existing splash park in Lewis and Clark Park was described as loved, yet crowded. Overall, there is ver y strong suppor t for a public pool in the community. INDOOR COMMUNIT Y SPACE Another trend in the responses was the lack of indoor recreational and event space in Belgrade - it is diff icult to f ind or non-existent. Several respondents described the need for a versatile venue for community events such as an enlarged farmer’s market, community gardens and outdoor learning, family reunions, youth programs, and athletic center with gym space. A multi-use facility was mentioned, including the need for indoor spor ts. From the responses, it is clear a community facility has public suppor t could meet the needs of many groups in Belgrade. PARK AC TIVITIE S AND AMENITIE S Responses about specif ic park activities and amenities varied greatly, but some trends emerged. There were many requests for dog parks or dog friendliness, improved and more playgrounds, improved ice rinks, an outdoor roller skating rink, f lexible green space, and more parks. Adding various activities and spor ts in the parks were among the ---PAGE BREAK--- 019 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 019 Triangle Park responses. Basketball, softball, baseball, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, and increase f ield space were among requests for spor t f ields and cour ts. Spor ts leagues or group f itness for adults was mentioned several times. There were ver y few suggestions for adventure courses, disc golf, and a golf course. Naturalized park features were suggested, including ponds for f ishing and swimming and native landscaping for drought tolerance and wildlife habitat. Additional trees were requested in both naturalized areas and in open play areas. Cleaned existing bathrooms and added bathrooms was the most popular amenity requested in the responses. Other added or improved amenities with fewer mentions include fencing along Main Street and expanded event parking at Lewis and Clark Park, picnic areas, and more seating and shelters. The responses demonstrate a desire for new spor ts facilities with recreational programs, as well as suppor t for basic amenities, with bathrooms being the most popular request. FUNDING Ideas for funding parks included grass roots organizations, private donations, taxing for parks outside of Belgrade city limits, and proceeds from recreational programs. Some responses called for an improved road system before improvements to parks. There were also suggestions for developers to pay for new parks and trails. The variety of responses on funding shows the possibility of exploring all the funding options available. Focus Group and Public Meeting Input Many discussions were held with local individuals or groups in the Belgrade community, beginning ---PAGE BREAK--- 020 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 020 a major contributor to Belgrade and par t of the community’s identity. May Community Outreach In May 2019, an open house was held at the Belgrade Public Libar y to provide the oppor tunity for public comment and discussion. Discussions were positive, and inquisitive visitors asked about uniting the two “halves” of Belgrade, ways to get involved in building future parks and trails, and how to connect to nearby cities and subdivisions outside of city limits. To conf irm the results about parks and recreation from the public sur vey offered in March 2019, a second public sur vey was launched on May 21, 2019 until May 31, 2019. The results of the second sur vey are listed in Appendix C. The results conf irmed recreational programming choices and the public’s desire for park improvement, trail building, the creation of a parks district, and the formation of a parks department. in mid-March 2019. Feedback was provided by representatives from schools, spor ts clubs, boards, non-prof its, and local recreation groups. Some individual conversations took place at public meetings. Main themes included: • Connectivity • Spor ts Field Space CONNEC TIVIT Y Overall, better circulation was the most voiced issue in the community during focus group conversations. The need for sidewalks and bike lanes within Belgrade city limits was stressed for increase safety and connection. Several discussions led to stories about people walking on the street for work, dragging luggage to the airpor t, or dar ting across traff ic during spor ts games. Outside city limits, trails were the biggest topic. Trails were discussed primarily for walking or hiking and biking. Groups described a desire to connect between neighborhoods, nearby cities, and parks. SPORTS FIELD SPACE Many groups explained that open green grass is at a premium in Belgrade and the surrounding communities. Limited green space for club practices and games was expressed, and some focus groups described youth sports as one of the most impor tant activities in the community and contributes to Belgrade’s character, making it a destination for family recreational activities. Many spor t clubs search the whole region for f ield space, especially since their par ticipants are from various cities in the area. Local games and tournaments bring people to Belgrade and provide an economic boost to local businesses. This economic factor was identif ied as Application of Sur vey Responses It is the intent of this document to summarize the community needs as heard in the sur vey and focus groups. The collected responses will be a star ting point for the City of Belgrade, Gallatin County, and local non-prof its to help Belgrade meet the needs of the community. The trends and patterns found in the responses will be used in the forming recommendations in the remaining chapters of this document. There are currently non-prof it organizations based in Belgrade and Gallatin County that are actively pursuing new recreational trails, parks, and facilities. These groups include: • Belgrade Aquatic Center • Belgrade Community Coalition • Gallatin Valley Land Trust Identif ying gaps or needs is the f irst step for government entities, non-prof its, and other local organizations to develop specif ic projects that fur ther connect Belgrade and improve the social fabric of the community. Youth/family activities! 1st 2nd 4th 3rd An outdoor pool! Trails! Enter tainment! A swimming pool, trails, enter tainment/music venue, and youth/family activities were some of the most requested recreational items in the public sur vey. Please rank these recreational items and press submit. Fig ure 7: A sur vey question asked par ticipants to rank recreational items. ---PAGE BREAK--- 021 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 021 View of Gallatin River near Cameron Bridge Fishing Access ---PAGE BREAK--- 022 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 022 include a disregard for ecological areas, barriers like highways and railroads, and nuances of local activity. Finding gaps between residential areas and park ser vice areas are useful in star ting to map future improvements, while cross referencing with public feedback. See Figure 8 for the Park Classif ications for Belgrade. Park classif ications in Belgrade include pocket parks, neighborhood parks, community parks, spor ts complexes, and special use parks. Pocket parks are typically the smallest type of park, between .25 and 1 acre, and Community outreach results revealed priorities, park and program ideas, and a general sense of public sentiment and desire. Using f ield obser vations and national park and recreation standards, detailed park recommendations and networks for parks and pathways are presented in this chapter. Public feedback shaped the recommendations for each park and the overall park system in Belgrade. National standards were primarily taken from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), which researches parks and recreation and is an essential source for comprehensive data and national standards in the Unites States. Site visits to each park in Belgrade led to a list of suggested improvements specif ic to each park and a connected system of existing and proposed parks. Trails are minimal inside and outside the City - new trails are proposed to connect Belgrade internally and to desired destinations, including the Bridger Mountains, nearby cities, and rivers. Park design principles are discussed to guide future park site plans and the evolution of the park system. Park Classif ication and Equity Mapping Using park classif ications is one method for f inding how much and where a population is ser ved, Mapping park classif ications help make decisions on the quantity and location of new park facilities, features, or amenities, parks. Based on use and size, each Belgrade park was assigned a classif ication, which has an assumed ser vice area. Though the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) does not have recent publications on park classif ication, it is a traditional way of measuring equity between neighborhoods or populations ser ved. Under- ser ved areas are found when ser vice areas and amenities are placed on a city map, creating an equity map. The shortcomings of this method Children’s Park 04. SITE INVENTORY, ASSE SSMENT, & RECOMMENDATIONS Investigating ways to meet community needs through studying local recreation sites and national standards. ---PAGE BREAK--- 023 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 023 PARK NAME SIZE (ACRES) LAND OWNER CLASSIFICATION 1. Belgrade Youth Sports Complex 57.60 DNRC (easements by City / School District / Airport) Special Use/Spor ts Complex 2. Children's Park 0.27 City of Belgrade Pocket 3. Clarkin Park 0.98 City of Belgrade/State of Montana Pocket 4. Kathy Hollensteiner Memorial Park 1.58 City of Belgrade Neighborhood 5. Kiwanis Park 1.02 City of Belgrade Pocket 6. Las Campanas Park 1.40 City of Belgrade Special Use 7. Lewis and Clark Park 7.66 City of Belgrade Community/Special Use 8. Lions Park 14.89 City of Belgrade Spor ts Complex 9. McMillian Park 0.54 City of Belgrade Pocket 10. Memorial Park 0.24 City of Belgrade Pocket 11. Miller Park 0.48 City of Belgrade Pocket 12. Prairie View Park 4.03 City of Belgrade Neighborhood 13. Prescott Park 4.82 City of Belgrade Neighborhood (undeveloped) 14. Quinella Park 0.74 City of Belgrade Pocket 15. Ryen Glenn Park 12.25 City of Belgrade Neighborhood 16. Sunnyside Park 2.99 City of Belgrade Neighborhood 17. Triangle Park 0.13 City of Belgrade Pocket 18. Winter Park 0.32 City of Belgrade Pocket TOTAL 111.94 Fig ure 8: Park Classif ication of Belg rade Parks. See Park Ser vice Area Maps and Equity Maps for locations. Acreage data gathered from Montana Cadastral. usually provide small play areas or comfor table spaces with minimal activity and amenities. Neighborhood parks are normally 3 to 10 acres, but can be classif ied by their function and not by size alone. Safe pedestrian access, neighborhood identity, and at least one unique amenity often characterize neighborhood parks. Community parks often ser ve multiple neighborhoods and contain diverse recreational oppor tunities and some revenue generating facilities. Size of community parks range from 10 to 100 acres o average. Active and passive activities, public restrooms, safe access, trail connectivity, landscaping, and designed signage are typically seen at community parks. Spor ts complexes can offer between 4 and 16 f ields or cour ts in one park. Multiple spor t types, competitive games, and tournaments are normally held at sport complexes, with a means for maintenance revenue through ticketing and concessions. Special use parks usually ser ve a single purpose and can be located inside another park. For example, the Belgrade Skate Park is a special use park that is located within Lewis and Clark Park. Other special use park examples include aquatic parks, disc golf, cemeteries, historic sites, or dog parks. PARK SERVICE AREA ASSE SSMENT THROUGH EQUIT Y MAPS Ser vice areas were mapped to determine if park proximity is equitable across Belgrade. The central por tion of Belgrade city limits are generally covered by park ser vice areas, with many neighborhoods having close proximity to parks. This roughly aligns with the public sur vey results showing that 54% of respondents said they live within walking distance to a park and 41% of respondents said they normally travel to a park by walking. Some of the ser vice areas reach across barriers like Interstate 90 and the railroad. Residential and commercial areas not ---PAGE BREAK--- 024 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 024 MAIN STREET MAIN STREET JACKRABBIT LN JACKRABBIT LN ALASKA RD ALASKA RD AIRPORT RD AIRPORT RD SPOONER RD SPOONER RD AMSTERDAM RD AMSTERDAM RD INTERSTATE 90 INTERSTATE 90 RAILROAD RAILROAD BROADWAY BROADWAY DRY CREEK RD DRY CREEK RD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD Ryen Glenn Park Belgrade Youth Sports Complex Lions Park Kiwanis Park Prescott Park Kathy Hollensteiner Memorial Park Quinella Park Clarkin Park McMillan Park Children’s Park Winter Park Lewis and Clark Park Triangle Park Memorial Park Prairie View Park Miller Park Sunnyside Park Las Campanas Park Park Ser vice Areas ---PAGE BREAK--- 025 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 025 Playground Equity Map MAIN STREET MAIN STREET JACKRABBIT LN JACKRABBIT LN ALASKA RD ALASKA RD AIRPORT RD AIRPORT RD SPOONER RD SPOONER RD AMSTERDAM RD AMSTERDAM RD INTERSTATE 90 INTERSTATE 90 RAILROAD RAILROAD BROADWAY BROADWAY DRY CREEK RD DRY CREEK RD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD Ryen Glenn Park Belgrade Youth Sports Complex Lions Park Kiwanis Park Prescott Park Kathy Hollensteiner Memorial Park Quinella Park Clarkin Park McMillan Park Children’s Park Winter Park Lewis and Clark Park Triangle Park Memorial Park Prairie View Park Miller Park Sunnyside Park Las Campanas Park ---PAGE BREAK--- 026 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 026 Regulation Spor ts Field Equity Map MAIN STREET MAIN STREET JACKRABBIT LN JACKRABBIT LN ALASKA RD ALASKA RD AIRPORT RD AIRPORT RD SPOONER RD SPOONER RD AMSTERDAM RD AMSTERDAM RD INTERSTATE 90 INTERSTATE 90 RAILROAD RAILROAD BROADWAY BROADWAY DRY CREEK RD DRY CREEK RD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD Ryen Glenn Park Belgrade Youth Sports Complex Lions Park Kiwanis Park Prescott Park Kathy Hollensteiner Memorial Park Quinella Park Clarkin Park McMillan Park Children’s Park Winter Park Lewis and Clark Park Triangle Park Memorial Park Prairie View Park Miller Park Sunnyside Park Las Campanas Park ---PAGE BREAK--- 027 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 027 Areas of Anticipated Change ---PAGE BREAK--- 028 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 028 covered by park ser vice areas include the nor thern and western city limits, a small por tion of the southeast city limits, and western par ts of the Ryen Glenn subdivision. Future parks and expanded parks are recommended in under-ser ved areas. For measuring equity of playgrounds, areas with only swings or minimal equipment were given a quar ter- mile radius, medium-sized playgrounds were given a half-mile radius, and larger playgrounds with frequent visits were given a one-mile radius. The playground equity map does not consider conditions of the play equipment, but helps identif y areas where new playgrounds could be planned. Barriers such as the railroad and Jackrabbit Lane limit the ser vice areas shown. Gaps are seen in the western neighborhoods, south of the railroad, and the western par t of Ryen Glenn subdivision. For mapping play f ield equity, the size of an adult soccer f ield was used to estimate whether a park holds a regulation spor ts f ield, since many other f ield spor ts like football, lacrosse, or rugby can f it within the footprint of a soccer f ield. Regulation spor ts f ields are limited to the Belgrade Youth Spor ts Complex and Lewis and Clark Park. The f ields at Prairie View Park and Sunnyside Park are not large enough for a regulation soccer f ield, but are considered practice f ields. The western neighborhoods and Ryen Glenn are seen to be under-ser ved in regard to proximity to spor ts f ields. Due to community feedback for more f ield space, additional spor ts f ields are recommended. In all three equity maps, the western por tion of the city limits and the western por tion of the Ryen Glenn subdivision were under-ser ved. AREAS OF CHANGE AND GROW TH The 2019 Grow th Policy identif ies areas of change through a future land use map. The Areas of Anticipated Change map illustrates Belgrade parks and the future land uses from the Grow th Policy, which are proper ties that are expected to grow or change use. The shor tcomings of the western half of Belgrade found in the equity mapping can be addressed when properties are developed according to the future land use map. When planning and designing the areas of anticipated change, high standards for parks and trail systems should be used. Improved park and trail standards are recommended in the Belgrade subdivision regulations. Recommendations for updated subdivision regulation can be found in Chapter 7. Individual Park Assessment Park inventor y included gathering site-level information on existing park amenities, including the capacity, condition, and connectivity of site features. The facility inventor y listed in Figure 9 shows amenities, features, and various activities available at each park in Belgrade. Items that are both listed in the facility inventor y and mentioned as a need in community feedback were mapped for equity, including play equipment and regulation spor ts f ields. Each park was assessed through an on site visit for safety and accessibility as a high priority. Comfor t of spaces, poor condition of items, wayf inding, and circulation were considered in each individual park assessment. The recommendations shown on the park aerials are a minimum for the next 10 years. Undeveloped parks or heavily used parks with programmatic change require a designed site plan by a Landscape Architect. Cost estimates for improvements of each park are listed in Chapter 7, Grow th and Capital Improvements. ---PAGE BREAK--- 029 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 029 PARK NAME SHELTER/ WARMING HUT RE STROOMS TR ASH CANS SEATING DOG STATION SIGNAGE WATER FOUNTAIN PL AY EQUIPMENT SPLASH PAD BASEBALL FIELD SOF TBALL FIELD SOCCER FIELD BASKETBALL COURT MULTI-USE SPACE/ PR AC TICE FIELD TENNIS ICE SK ATING PARKING LOT SK ATE PARK CONCE SSIONS STAND TREE S MAILBOXE S BIKE R ACKS Belgrade Youth Spor ts Complex 1 1 4 3 1 2 5 1 1 Children's Park 1 1 yes 1 8+ Clarkin Park 1 1 3 1 1 1 11+ Kathy Hollensteiner Memorial Park 1 1 7+ 1 1 1 yes Kiwanis Park 1 1 1 2 1 yes 1 1 1 21+ Las Campanas Park n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Lewis & Clark Park 2 1 12+ 17+ 3 1 1 yes 1 1 2 1 1 60+ 1 Lions Park 2 1 12+ 17+ 3 1 2 yes 5 1 1 1 1 15+ McMillian Park 1 2 1 11+ Memorial Park 1 2 1 yes 4 1 Miller Park 1 4 1 yes 12+ Prairie View Park 1 3 5 4 yes 1 16+ 1 Prescott Park (undeveloped) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Quinella Park 1 Ryen Glenn Park 1 1 4 4 4 1 yes 1 15+ 1 1 Sunnyside Park 1 2 2 yes 1 1 13+ Triangle Park 1 1 1 10 1 Winter Park 1 1 1 TOTAL 11 6 42+ 70+ 24 4 4 10 1 5 2 3 3 2 7 2 6 1 3 208 6 2 Fig ure 9: Facility inventor y of park amenities, features, activities. ---PAGE BREAK--- 030 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 030 CRUISER LANE CRUISER LANE SPOONER ROAD SPOONER ROAD S I G N A G E S I G N A G E S I D E WA L K S I D E WA L K P L AY G R O U N D P L AY G R O U N D C R O S S WA L K C R O S S WA L K C R O S S WA L K C R O S S WA L K C R O S S WA L K C R O S S WA L K PA R K I N G PA R K I N G D O G PA R K D O G PA R K S E XISTING AMENITIE S: • 5 tennis cour ts • 1 softball f ield • 2 full-size soccer f ields • 1 shelter • Concessions • Restrooms • Par tial parking lot • Storage sheds RECOMMENDATIONS: • Complete park Master Plan provided by school district • Add park signage • Add shared use path along Dr y Creek Road, weaving between seating • Add safe crossing at Spooner Road and Softball Complex • Add safe crossings at Spooner Road and Medina Park • Perform intersection and crossing study for safe crossings at Cruiser Lane • Add sidewalks along Spooner Road • Future expansion to consider airport height and light limitations • Add dog stations • Add bike racks • Add additional trash cans Belgrade Youth Spor ts Complex S O C C E R F I E L D S S O C C E R F I E L D S S O C C E R F I E L D S S O C C E R F I E L D S S O F T B A L L F I E L D S S O F T B A L L F I E L D S S O F T B A L L F I E L D S S O F T B A L L F I E L D S S H A R E D U S E PAT H S H A R E D U S E PAT H PA R K I N G PA R K I N G DR Y C RE EK RO AD DR Y C RE EK RO AD I N T E R S E C T I O N S T U D Y I N T E R S E C T I O N S T U D Y ---PAGE BREAK--- 031 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 031 E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Basketball hoop, par tial cour t • Swings • Spring rockers • Seating • 1 dog station • Vegetative buffer along alley RECOMMENDATIONS: • Remove non-compliant spring rockers • Plan to upgrade equipment • Remove pea gravel and install concrete edging with engineered wood f iber or other compliant surfacing • Remove wooden picnic table and add new seating near play equipment • Add sidewalk along Bridger View Drive, connecting to new seating • Add crosswalk striping at nor th corner • Add trash can • Add fencing along alley and street Children’s Park BRIDGER VIEW DRIVE BRIDGER VIEW DRIVE S T T R A S H C A N T R A S H C A N C O M P L I A N T P L AY G R O U N D C O M P L I A N T P L AY G R O U N D S U R FA C I N G A N D E D G I N G S U R FA C I N G A N D E D G I N G U P G R A D E E Q U I P M E N T U P G R A D E E Q U I P M E N T C R O S S WA L K S T R I P I N G C R O S S WA L K S T R I P I N G S E AT I N G S E AT I N G S I G N A G E S I G N A G E S I D E WA L K S I D E WA L K F E N C I N G F E N C I N G S ---PAGE BREAK--- 032 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 032 E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Gazebo with seating • Seating • Mature trees • Signage • 1 dog station RECOMMENDATIONS: • Add sidewalk along parking and along Madison Avenue • Add safe crosswalks across nor thern and eastern driveways • Update seating • Add vegetative buffer along Jackrabbit Lane and West Madison Road • Plan to treat wood on gazebo or replace • Relocate sign with organizations listed to gateway area to Belgrade • Update or ref inish park sign on corner • Add park sign at gazebo • Collaborate with shopping center to provide safe crossings through parking lot with landscaped islands JACKRABBIT LANE JACKRABBIT LANE Clarkin Park WEST MADISON AVENUE WEST MADISON AVENUE S I G N A G E S I G N A G E C R O S S WA L K, T Y P C R O S S WA L K, T Y P C R O S S I N G A N D C R O S S I N G A N D PA R K I N G L O T PA R K I N G L O T I S L A N D S I S L A N D S V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R S ---PAGE BREAK--- 033 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 033 Kathy Hollensteiner Memorial Park S CIRCLE DRIVE S CIRCLE DRIVE E XISTING AMENITIE S: • 1 shelter with seating • Restrooms • Drinking fountain • Signage • Play equipment • Seating • Shaded seating • Climbing rock • Par tial buffering • Perimeter fencing • Dog station • Grill RECOMMENDATIONS: • Replace sidewalk at entr y to meet ADA standards • Install additional vegetative buffers near housing • Install concrete edging and add more engineered wood f iber or other compliant surfacing • Add trash can at shelter • Install playground signage • Add bike racks R E P L A C E S I D E WA L K TO R E P L A C E S I D E WA L K TO B E A D A C O M P L I A N T B E A D A C O M P L I A N T V E G E TAT I V E V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R B U F F E R C O M P L I A N T C O M P L I A N T P L AY G R O U N D P L AY G R O U N D S U R FA C I N G A N D S U R FA C I N G A N D E D G I N G E D G I N G V E G E TAT I V E V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R B U F F E R T T R A S H C A N T R A S H C A N B I K E R A C K S B I K E R A C K S ---PAGE BREAK--- 034 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 034 HOMERUN DRIVE HOMERUN DRIVE Kiwanis Park E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Warming hut • Depression for ice rink • Play equipment • Seating • 1 dog station • 1 trash can RECOMMENDATIONS: • Remove pea gravel and plastic edging, install concrete edging with engineered wood f iber or other compliant surfacing • Add crosswalk and sidewalk at Homerun Drive • Improve turf at south end of park • Add ADA compliant sidewalk from parking to playground • Install signage for park • Install bike racks • Install fencing at southern property line • Pave parking lot C O M P L I A N T C O M P L I A N T P L AY G R O U N D P L AY G R O U N D S U R FA C I N G A N D S U R FA C I N G A N D E D G I N G E D G I N G S I D E WA L K S I D E WA L K R E PA I R T U R F R E PA I R T U R F F E N C I N G F E N C I N G PAV E PA R K I N G L O T PAV E PA R K I N G L O T S I G N A G E S I G N A G E C R O S S WA L K C R O S S WA L K B I K E R A C K S B I K E R A C K S S ---PAGE BREAK--- 035 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 035 Las Camapanas Parks E XISTING AMENITIE S: • 4,000 feet of natural surface trail RECOMMENDATIONS: • Pave existing surface trail to upgrade to shared use path • Por tion of existing surface trail is in highway right of way - coordinate with Montana Depar tment of Transportation for paving section of trail • Connect trail to undeveloped park • Connect trail to existing berm trail PAV E T R A I L TO PAV E T R A I L TO U P G R A D E TO S H A R E D U P G R A D E TO S H A R E D U S E PAT H U S E PAT H P O R T I O N O F T R A I L I N P O R T I O N O F T R A I L I N H I G H WAY R I G H T O F WAY H I G H WAY R I G H T O F WAY U N D E V E L O P E D PA R K U N D E V E L O P E D PA R K C O N N E C T T R A I L TO C O N N E C T T R A I L TO U N D E V E L O P E D PA R K U N D E V E L O P E D PA R K C O N N E C T T R A I L TO C O N N E C T T R A I L TO PAT H O N B E R M PAT H O N B E R M INTERSTATE 90 INTERSTATE 90 IDAHO STREET IDAHO STREET NEW MEXICO NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NEW YORK WYOMING STREET WYOMING STREET LAS CAMPANAS DRIVE LAS CAMPANAS DRIVE DR DR LOUISIANA LOUISIANA HAWAII RD HAWAII RD ---PAGE BREAK--- 036 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 036 NORTH DAVIS STREET NORTH DAVIS STREET C R O S S WA L K S, T Y P C R O S S WA L K S, T Y P U P G R A D E U P G R A D E B AT H R O O M S B AT H R O O M S U P G R A D E U P G R A D E S I G N A G E S I G N A G E F U T U R E F U T U R E C I V I C C I V I C D E V E L O P M E N T D E V E L O P M E N T Lewis & Clark Park MAIN STREET MAIN STREET ASPEN LANE ASPEN LANE E XISTING AMENITIE S: • 2 shelters with grills and picnic tables • Restrooms • Playground • Skate park • Splash pad • Signage • Open space for spor ts such as soccer and lacrosse • Parking • Dog stations • 1 bike rack • Concession stand • Seating RECOMMENDATIONS: • Upgrade bathrooms • Remove pea gravel and install concrete edging with engineered wood f iber or other compliant surfacing • Add sidewalks around perimeter • Add vegetative screens around perimeter and pump buildings • Safe crosswalk across Main Street, a study and design is required • Add fencing along Main St across from playground • Remove tennis cour ts, install irrigation and turf • Repair weathering wood on shelters • Replace signage along Main St • Fire station ownership is transitioning and is an oppor tunity for a community building for the farmer’s market and parks programs F E N C I N G F E N C I N G S I D E WA L K S I D E WA L K R E M O V E T E N N I S R E M O V E T E N N I S C O U R T F E N C I N G C O U R T F E N C I N G V E G E TAT I V E V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R, B U F F E R, T Y P T Y P U T I L I Z E U T I L I Z E C O N C E S S I O N S C O N C E S S I O N S S TA N D S TA N D C O M P L I A N T C O M P L I A N T P L AY G R O U N D P L AY G R O U N D S U R FA C I N G A N D S U R FA C I N G A N D E D G I N G E D G I N G • Utilize concession stand • Buffer f ire station depending on future use • Relocate parking at f ire station off of Main St due to high traff ic on Main St RECOMMENDATIONS: RECOMMENDATIONS: I N T E R S E C T I O N S T U D Y I N T E R S E C T I O N S T U D Y PAV E PA R K I N G L O T PAV E PA R K I N G L O T • Plan to update play equipment due to high frequency of visits • Install additional bike racks • Pave parking lot S ---PAGE BREAK--- 037 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 037 Lions Park DRY CREEK ROAD DRY CREEK ROAD WEST CAMERON AVE WEST CAMERON AVE E XISTING AMENITIE S: • 5 baseball f ields • 2 batting cages • Play equipment • Restrooms and concessions • Shelter, grills, and tables • 2 scoreboards • 4 storage sheds RECOMMENDATIONS: • Add crosswalks at Nor th Weaver Street and Dr y Creek Road • Install sidewalk along West Cameron Ave • Remove pea gravel and install concrete edging with engineered wood f iber or other compliant surfacing • Add sidewalk along east edge of parking lot • Remove dome climber, add additional play equipment • Add vegetative buffer at west proper ty line • Install bike racks • Add additional scoreboards • Install shared used path along Dr y Creek Road • Design eff icient parking layout and pave parking lot V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R S H A R E D U S E PAT H S H A R E D U S E PAT H S I D E WA L K, T Y P S I D E WA L K, T Y P C O M P L I A N T C O M P L I A N T P L AY G R O U N D P L AY G R O U N D S U R FA C I N G A N D S U R FA C I N G A N D E D G I N G E D G I N G ---PAGE BREAK--- 038 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 038 McMillan Park LAS CAMPANAS DRIVE LAS CAMPANAS DRIVE E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Flexible green space • Seating with trees • 1 dog station RECOMMENDATIONS: • Add tree buffers near homes • Work with local residents to determine future activities or uses • Add signage • Possible space for movie nights or events or programs held by the parks depar tment S I G N A G E S I G N A G E V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R, V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R, T Y P T Y P S ---PAGE BREAK--- 039 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 039 Memorial Park E MISSOULA AVE E MISSOULA AVE WASHINGTON STREET WASHINGTON STREET E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Play equipment • Perimeter fencing • Seating • 1 dog station • Mailboxes RECOMMENDATIONS: • Add perimeter sidewalk • Add crosswalks • Remove pea gravel and install concrete edging with engineered wood f iber or other compliant surfacing • Remove non-compliant spring rockers and dome climber • Update play equipment, add more equipment • Add signage • Add trees around playground for shade • Design pull-off area for mail boxes and landscaping • Replace picnic table • Improve turf S I D E WA L K S I D E WA L K M A I L B O X P U L L-O F F, M A I L B O X P U L L-O F F, A D D A D D L A N D S C A P I N G L A N D S C A P I N G S I G N A G E S I G N A G E C R O S S WA L K S C R O S S WA L K S C O M P L I A N T C O M P L I A N T P L AY G R O U N D P L AY G R O U N D S U R FA C I N G A N D S U R FA C I N G A N D E D G I N G E D G I N G T R E E S, T Y P T R E E S, T Y P S ---PAGE BREAK--- 040 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 040 C O M P L I A N T C O M P L I A N T P L AY G R O U N D P L AY G R O U N D S U R FA C I N G S U R FA C I N G Miller Park WYOMING STREET WYOMING STREET NEW MEXICO NEW MEXICO S I G N A G E S I G N A G E B I K E R A C K S B I K E R A C K S S I D E WA L K, T Y P S I D E WA L K, T Y P S E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Play equipment • Evergreen buffer RECOMMENDATIONS: • Remove sand as playground surfacing, add engineered wood f iber or other compliant surfacing • Add crosswalks • Add sidewalk to playground • Add concrete edge at fencing • Add park signage and playground signage • Add bike racks ---PAGE BREAK--- 041 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 041 Prairie View Park ARIZONA STREET ARIZONA STREET EAST GALLATIN AVENUE EAST GALLATIN AVENUE E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Newer play equipment • Trees near shelter • Practice f ield • Turf in good condition • 1 shelter • Seating • Play equipment • Dog stations • Perimeter fencing RECOMMENDATIONS: • Add perimeter and access sidewalks, culvert required • Add crosswalk • Centrally locate new restrooms for access from practice f ield and playground/shelter • Add water fountain • Remove pea gravel and install concrete edging with engineered wood f iber or other compliant surfacing • Add accessible sidewalks from streets to playground and shelter • Add trash can near shelter • Add park signage and play equipment signage • Repair bent fence posts • Design pull-off area for mail boxes, with landscaping • Install bike racks S I G N A G E S I G N A G E R E S T R O O M S A N D R E S T R O O M S A N D WAT E R F O U N TA I N WAT E R F O U N TA I N C O M P L I A N T C O M P L I A N T P L AY G R O U N D P L AY G R O U N D S U R FA C I N G A N D S U R FA C I N G A N D E D G I N G E D G I N G M A I L B O X P U L L- M A I L B O X P U L L- O F F, A D D O F F, A D D L A N D S C A P I N G L A N D S C A P I N G T T R A S H C A N T R A S H C A N C R O S S WA L K S C R O S S WA L K S S I D E WA L K, T Y P S I D E WA L K, T Y P S ---PAGE BREAK--- 042 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 042 Prescott Park WEST WOOD CIRCLE WEST WOOD CIRCLE MEADOW CIRCLE MEADOW CIRCLE E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Basketball hoop in parking lot • Well building • Vista of Bridger mountains to the east RECOMMENDATIONS: • Hire consultants to design and engineer park plan • Vegetative buffer around perimeter near housing • Collaborate with irrigation company to create sidewalk connections along irrigation ditch easement • Green space for practice f ields and smaller regulation f ields • Play equipment • Expanded parking S I D E WA L K, T Y P S I D E WA L K, T Y P V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R V I S TA O F V I S TA O F B R I D G E R S B R I D G E R S CHEERY DRIVE CHEERY DRIVE ---PAGE BREAK--- 043 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 043 Quinella Park QUINELLA STREET QUINELLA STREET SPOONER ROAD SPOONER ROAD E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Wood bridge across drainage swale • 2 mailboxes • Some shade near bridge RECOMMENDATIONS: • Add pull-off near mail boxes • Add perimeter sidewalks • Add sidewalks connecting both sides of park, bike lane, and cul-de-sac • Crossing irrigation ditch requires another bridge - collaborate with irrigation company • Design potential playground area • Add vegetative buffer near homes • Add signage if activities or features are added • Irrigation ditch is potential place for native plantings to encourage urban habitat - collaborate with irrigation company M A I L B O X P U L L-O F F, M A I L B O X P U L L-O F F, A D D L A N D S C A P I N G A D D L A N D S C A P I N G N AT I V E P L A N T I N G S N AT I V E P L A N T I N G S V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R B R I D G E B R I D G E S I D E WA L K S, T Y P S I D E WA L K S, T Y P P O T E N T I A L P O T E N T I A L P L AY G R O U N D A R E A P L AY G R O U N D A R E A ---PAGE BREAK--- 044 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 044 W SILVER CIRCLE W SILVER CIRCLE INGOMAR BLVD INGOMAR BLVD SHELBY AVE SHELBY AVE E XISTING AMENITIE S: • New playground • Restrooms • Shelter • 3 bike racks • 3 dogs stations • Seating • Mailboxes • Natural surface walking loop • Trees • Parking lot RECOMMENDATIONS: • Continue developing park, adding topsoil, seeding, and trees • Add water fountain • Add grills to shelter • Add wood chips under swings [Site plan to be overlay on aerial] Ryen Glenn Park ---PAGE BREAK--- 045 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 045 E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Basketball cour t • Swings • Apple and pear orchard • Linear pathway • Practice f ield RECOMMENDATIONS: • Add sidewalks from Stiles Ave and Jeanette Pl to park • Remove pea gravel and install concrete edging with engineered wood f iber or other compliant surfacing • Add natural surface trail along highway and connect to Las Campanas Park trail • Add signage • Add edging and wood f iber to swings • Add bike racks • Update seating and add more seating Sunnyside Park INTERSTATE 90 INTERSTATE 90 STILES AVE STILES AVE JEANETTE PL JEANETTE PL MONTANA ST MONTANA ST S I G N A G E S I G N A G E S U R FA C E T R A I L S U R FA C E T R A I L S I D E WA L K S I D E WA L K S C O M P L I A N T C O M P L I A N T P L AY G R O U N D P L AY G R O U N D S U R FA C I N G S U R FA C I N G A N D E D G I N G A N D E D G I N G L A S L A S C A M PA N A S C A M PA N A S PA R K PA R K T R A I L T R A I L ---PAGE BREAK--- 046 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 046 Triangle Park SOUTH DAVIS STREET SOUTH DAVIS STREET EAST GALLATIN AVENUE EAST GALLATIN AVENUE EAST MADISON AVE EAST MADISON AVE E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Mature trees • Dog station • Mail boxes • Seating • Vista of the Bridger Mountains from South Davis Street RECOMMENDATIONS: • Add crosswalks at all corners • Add perimeter sidewalks • Add pull-off and landscaping at mailboxes • Remove one tree to frame view for vista • Add 3 trees at nor theast side • Add signage S I G N A G E S I G N A G E S I D E WA L K S I D E WA L K C R O S S WA L K, T Y P C R O S S WA L K, T Y P T R E E S T R E E S V I S TA V I S TA M A I L B O X P U L L-O F F, M A I L B O X P U L L-O F F, A D D A D D L A N D S C A P I N G L A N D S C A P I N G S ---PAGE BREAK--- 047 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 047 Winter Park NORTH BROADWAY NORTH BROADWAY WEST PARK AVENUE WEST PARK AVENUE E XISTING AMENITIE S: • Warming hut • Depression for ice rink • Perimeter fencing • Seating RECOMMENDATIONS: • Update seating • Add gates • Add trash can and dog station • Add perimeter sidewalk and safe crosswalks • Add signage • Add fencing and vegetative buffer along alley and proper ty line M A I L B O X P U L L- M A I L B O X P U L L- O F F, A D D O F F, A D D L A N D S C A P I N G L A N D S C A P I N G V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R V E G E TAT I V E B U F F E R S I D E WA L K S I D E WA L K S I G N A G E S I G N A G E T T R A S H C A N T R A S H C A N F E N C I N G F E N C I N G S ---PAGE BREAK--- 048 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 048 Recommendations for All Parks Improvements to park maintenance and operations are needed in addition to individual park recommendations. Playground inspection and maintenance, irrigation assessment, and standardized construction details are recommended. PLAYGROUND DE SIGN AND SAFET Y Playground safety is standardized through national requirements, and one Belgrade staff member is recommended to become a Cer tif ied Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) to help Belgrade playgrounds meet these standards. Ideally any entity that owns playground equipment on public proper ty would have an in-house CPSI or a contracted CSPI. The cer tif ication is valuable for learning how to reduce risk and maintaining awareness of how playground safety standards are evolving. For example, a CPSI is trained to help design new playgrounds, audit and inspect play equipment, create playground inventor y and maintenance plans, and keep records of playground documents. All Belgrade playgrounds require auditing or inspection. IRRIGATION ASSE SSMENT An irrigation assessment is recommended to inventor y existing systems and determine future grow th and need for future repairs. As Belgrade grows, new parks will be added to the City footprint and require increase capacity over time. A consulting irrigation professional is recommended to perform the assessment. MAINTENANCE STANDARDS Maintenance standards for existing and newly designed parks are recommended to streamline the time and labor needed to maintain the parks. Maintenance recommendations for all parks include: • Standard planting and irrigation details and specif ications • Standard mulch rings around trees for easier mowing • Standard concrete band along fencing for reduced weed whacking Fur ther maintenance and operation recommendations are found in Chapter 6. Proposed City Parks and Pathways New parks and trails at the city level are proposed on the Proposed City of Belgrade Parks and Pathways Map. Routes were created considering community feedback, undeveloped park land, and known future grow th. Subdivision parks proposed by developers and proposed linear parks are shown. A shared used path called the City Loop was located around the perimeter of the city with intentional links to parks, and additional shared use paths were place along Jackrabbit Lane and Broadway. Bike lanes were located primarily as a network inside the City Loop. COMMUNIT Y FEEDBACK Connectivity, trails, a pool, an indoor recreational facility, a dog park, and more youth-centered activities were among the top requests during community outreach. Many of these items are addressed through additional trails, sidewalks, a dog park, and additional parks. A proposed pool and indoor recreational facility would require a feasibility study and community education and engagement to learn about f inancial and developmental impacts. Many items were placed on the western side of Belgrade to address gaps found in the equity maps. Linking the parks with a shared use pathway also achieves desired connectivity voiced by the community. Perforating safe crossings through the railroad and the highway for pedestrian and recreational use is key to success in Belgrade’s recreational system. UNDEVELOPED PARKS Undeveloped areas require site planning and design. Undeveloped subdivision parks in Belgrade include: • Prescott Park • Quinella Park Potential city -owned proper ty that could become a park is the historic landf ill on Yellowstone Avenue and Wyoming Street. As an unoff icial dog park and sledding area, a feasibility study should be performed with community engagement. With the popularity of mountain biking in Montana, the landf ill could be an ideal place for a pump track. Some cities have conver ted railroad land into linear parks, and Belgrade is positioned similarly to unite the two halves of the city divided by the tracks. FUTURE GROW TH Parks in new subdivisions should have designed site plans and drawings at a level of detail for construction, which are to be provided by the developers in coordination with the City of Belgrade. Immediate action should be taken to incorporate shared use paths and bike lanes in unbuilt, but planned neighborhoods. Proposed Reg ional Parks and Pathways Belgrade is in an interdependent region, which makes parks and recreation a regional topic. Items ---PAGE BREAK--- 049 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 049 that inf luenced the placement of regional parks and pathways include: • Community feedback • Recreational resources • Neighboring planning effor ts • The Great American Rail Trail • Future grow th COMMUNIT Y FEEDBACK Trails were a popular topic in the open-ended responses of the public sur vey. Strong suppor t for trails led to the map of possible parks and pathways in the Belgrade region. Many respondents indicated they recreate outside of Belgrade and Bozeman. In response to this, proposed shared use paths leading to trailheads of the Bridger Mountains were placed on the map. RECREATIONAL RE SOURCE S The Gallatin River, the Madison River, and the Bridger Mountains are all natural resources that are popular destinations. Routes to f ishing access points, proposed natural surface trails, and shared use paths to trailheads were proposed so that they might become maintained trails, whether citizens use them unoff icially or they connect people to valuable natural resources. NEIGHBORING PL ANNING EFFORTS Connecting neighboring towns such as Four Corners, Manhattan, and Bozeman is a long-term goal in the region. The Frontage Road Corridor Study and the Belgrade Bozeman Planning Coordination Committee demonstrates much suppor t for a shared use path between Belgrade and Bozeman. The Gallatin Valley Land Trust advocates for trails and works with many groups that could help Belgrade fulf ill the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. In addition to physical trails, trail signage, maps showing access, and education about trail etiquette and safety are critical to a successful trail system. Public education can help prevent user group conf licts and assist in maintenance. THE GREAT AMERICAN R AIL TR AIL The Rails-to-Trails Conser vancy has been involved in planning the Great American Rail Trail, which will run from Washington D.C. to the State of Washington. The route is currently planned to go through the Belgrade area, but the exact route has not been f inalized. Through collaboration with the City of Belgrade and conversations with community members, the suggested route would run from Jackrabbit Lane to Amsterdam Road towards the Gallatin River, heading nor th. The nor thern connection would link to the pedestrian bridge on West Dr y Creek Road, which crosses the Gallatin River. Bringing the Great American Rail Trail along Frontage Road was discussed, but the route along the river would be preferred due to less traff ic, the adjacent river, less noise, and better air quality. FUTURE GROW TH Based on areas of anticipated change and grow th identif ied in the 2019 Grow th Policy, regional parks and trails in the Belgrade area should be prioritized in new development. New subdivisions should connect to surrounding areas and provide regional parks and trails. Collaboration with the Belgrade City County Planning Board to form improved park and trail requirements is recommended. After trails are developed, grow th in Belgrade and the use of trails should be studied in more detail. Installing trail counters to f ind frequency and f luctuations in seasonal use can be helpful in future trail planning. Bike lanes or shared use paths that lead to the trailheads of the Bridger Mountains should be explored in future developments. Park and Trail Desig n Pr inciples The improvement of existing parks and the development of new parks should have a set of guiding principles in addition to municipal code. Each undeveloped and developed park should have an individual visionar y site plan that aligns with the Park and Recreation Master Plan. The following list is not comprehensive, but are nationally recognized documents that are progressive sources for park design, primarily from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA): • NRPA Repor t: Park and Recreation Sustainability Practices • NRPA Resource Guide for Planning, Designing and Implementing Green Infrastructure in Parks • Complete Parks by ChangeLab Solutions • NRPA Safe Routes to Parks • NRPA Park Metrics The quantif iable data about trails as a par t of public health, safety, and economic drivers is substantial. Trails are a critical infrastructure investment. Nationally recognized resources for trail design include: • Rails to Trails Conser vancy, Trail-Building Toolbox • National Association of City Transpor tation Off icials, Urban Bikeway Design Guide ---PAGE BREAK--- 050 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 050 Proposed City of Belgrade Parks and Pathways Map JACKRABBIT LN JACKRABBIT LN ALASKA RD ALASKA RD AIRPORT RD AIRPORT RD SPOONER RD SPOONER RD AMSTERDAM RD AMSTERDAM RD INTERSTATE 90 INTERSTATE 90 RAILROAD RAILROAD DRY CREEK RD DRY CREEK RD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD PENWELL BRIDGE ROAD MAIN STREET MAIN STREET BROADWAY BROADWAY ---PAGE BREAK--- 051 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 051 9.6 miles to Manhattan 19.6 miles to Madison River To Bozeman 9 miles to Amsterdam -Churchill 7.6 miles to Four Corners 25 miles to Madison River 11 .3 miles to Middle Cottonwood Trailhead 11 .5 miles to Sypes Canyon Trailhead 13.3 miles to Truman Gulch Trailhead Proposed Regional Parks and Pathways Map *Parks and pathways outside of city limits are outside of the impact fee area. JACKRABBIT LN JACKRABBIT LN SPOONER RD SPOONER RD INTERSTATE 90 INTERSTATE 90 RAILROAD RAILROAD FRONTAGE ROAD FRONTAGE ROAD GALLATIN RIVER GALLATIN RIVER AMSTERDAM RD AMSTERDAM RD E VALLEY CENTER ROAD E VALLEY CENTER ROAD ---PAGE BREAK--- 052 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 052 offered by agencies, but most especially by those that ser ve populations of at least 20,000 residents. Most park and recreation agencies offer programs for other groups, including seniors, teens, disabled persons. COMMUNIT Y INPUT Family friendly activities, youth activities, enter tainment, and spor ts leagues were some of the most mentioned programs in the public sur vey. From one-time events to regular programs, Belgrade stressed the need for things to do together in the community. Prog ram Recommendations A new parks and recreation director and maintenance staff ing is recommended to lead the launch of new parks and recreation programs in Belgrade. Currently there is no staff capacity within the city to coordinate programs. A gradual introduction of programs is recommended for several reasons: • Adver tising new programs requires trial and error to meet local expectations. Building adver tising, web interaction, and marketing plans take time. People are not accustomed to seeking out events and programs hosted by parks depar tment, but a marketing plan is needed to promote what the depar tment can offer • Building a revenue base will allow new programs to begin. After a few programs have become steady and provide a regular and expected source of income, new programs can be launched for testing. • Some programs could require collaboration with local groups, and par tnerships take time to form The City of Belgrade currently offers no programs through Parks and Recreation, as there is no staff solely dedicated to parks and recreation. Events that are regularly held in the City of Belgrade are a starting point to understand where programming might be lacking so that a future parks and recreation program can meet community needs. Existing Community Events The following events are currently held in the City of Belgrade: • Easter Egg Hunt • Belgrade Community Market - Thursday nights July through September • Fall Festival • Festival of Lights These events are hosted by either the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce or local non-prof its. Community feedback indicated that these events are well liked. Trends and Community Input National and regional trends are found in the 2019 Agency Performance Review produced by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA). Programs should be weighted according to age groups found in demographic trends - Belgrade has a relatively young population. Together with popular requests from the Belgrade community, trends were used to form program recommendations. NATIONAL TRENDS Trending park and recreation programs in the United States and the state region that Montana falls into include team spor ts, social recreation events, f itness enhancement classes, themed special events, and health and wellness education. Programs for children outside of school time are commonly 05. PROGR AM ASSE SSMENT & VISION Existing community events and community feedback can infor m future prog rams offered by the Belg rade Parks Depar tment, as well as vision, goals, and objectives for a more robust depar tment ---PAGE BREAK--- 053 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 053 to offer programs. A suggested list of events and programs to consider for the shor t-term future include: • Large community -centered family event • Outdoor movie series in the summer • After-school program • Senior-focused program • Adult spor t league • Fitness program • Summer youth camps • One-time special events for youth focused on outdoor recreation and education • Dog-friendly event • Winter programs such as cross-countr y skiing, snow shoeing, or broomball Recommended events and programs to plan for in the long-term future include: • Outdoor aquatic programs (contingent upon a pool facility) • Class or lecture series • Ongoing craft events or workshops NATIONAL INITIATIVE S The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) offers a series of initiatives that ser ve as programming ideas and resources. Initiatives include: • Water Management and Conser vation (events for stormwater infrastructure design and building) • Commit to Health • 10 -Minute Walk • Parks for Pollinators • Healthy Aging in Parks • Parks for Inclusion • Wildlife Explorers • Park Improvements • Climate Resilient Parks • Hear t Your Park MARKETING Building a basic marketing plan is recommended when programs are formed for the parks and recreation depar tment. The return on investment for marketing programs should be studied for strategic effor ts and spending. Main items in a marketing plan could include: • Developing consistent stor y telling that is beyond informational and is inspirational • Compiling a list of contacts • Hiring a consultant to design a logo and branding material • Prioritizing programs to inform planning and spending • Launching social media outreach The future director of the parks depar tment is recommended as the main creator and administrator of the marketing plan. BELGR ADE PARKS AND TR AILS MAPS Some Belgrade parks and trails are incorrectly listed or missing on online maps such as Google and the trail map offered through the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT). A high priority recommendation is to correct park and trail information on Google Maps, which requires GIS information to be uploaded to Google through an account and ongoing management for updates. A coordinated effort between a City of Belgrade employee with GIS software experience and the parks depar tment is required. An ongoing relationship with GVLT and the GIS depar tments of Gallatin County and the City is Bozeman is highly recommended to update and manage the park and trail information on the trail map on the GVLT website. Scheduling updates, using compatible software, inventor ying similar GIS data categories, and sharing data are minimum tasks to coordinate. Walking Routes and Walk Audits Walking initiatives and campaigns could become programming ideas offered by a future parks depar tment. Walking programs for school children, such as a walking school bus or Safe Routes to School program, and adult walking classes are oppor tunities to collaborate with the school district and local health organizations. The 2017 Belgrade Long Range Transportation Plan documented a limited pedestrian network, where many residential areas lack sidewalks and sidewalks are missing between existing subdivisions and destinations. To conf irm and build on the recommended pedestrian network, walking audits performed by community members are recommended. Walking audits are typically an assessment of comfor t, conditions, barriers, high priority problems, and any issue that affects walkability. Specif ic routes or whole ---PAGE BREAK--- 054 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 054 neighborhoods can be audited. Walking audits for access to parks is recommended and could be suppor ted by the Belgrade Mayor through the 10 -Minute Walk Campaign. Park Amenity Campaig ns Basic, low -cost amenities in the parks can improve a visitor’s experience and could be accomplished through small campaigns, such as fundraising and volunteering. Recommended items to add or upgrade include: • Designed trash wraps • Bike racks • Park and playground signage • Seating • Mailbox landscaping • Landscaping at signage or seating The design and aesthetic of these amenities could become a par t of the campaigns. Local groups interested in these amenities could par tner with the parks depar tment on implementation, Tobacco-free Parks Studies show that secondhand tobacco smoke poses health risks. Smoking and vaping in parks contributes toward normalizing the behavior for both adults and children. Banning tobacco use in parks could contribute towards community building and creating a welcoming and equitable space for all people to access to clean, fresh air. Features of a tobacco-free park program could include: • Signage • City code updates describing the ban of tobacco in parks • Citizen led accountability • Par tnerships with local health organizations for campaigning and public education Belg rade Park Depar tment Vision and Goals The process of creating goals and objectives for a future parks depar tment is to be led by the future director. To stimulate ownership and contribution of citizens, the community should be engaged while forming the goals and objectives. As Belgrade grows and evolves, the vision and goals of the future parks depar tment should shift accordingly. ---PAGE BREAK--- 055 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 055 • Natural Resource/Open Space • Spor t Cour ts (Basketball, Tennis, Sand Volleyball Cour ts) • Trails Management plans that describe maintenance standards, staff ing responsibilities, and schedules would be benef icial in the formation of a parks depar tment. Recommended management plans include: • Playground Inspection and Management Plans • Shelters and Restroom Management Plan • Athletic Field Management Plan • Noxious Weed Management Plan • Park Asset Management Plan • Trash Removal Management Plan The future parks depar tment director should consider using a similar Work Order Management System as used by Public Works. Following management plans can limit number and seriousness of breakdowns through preventative maintenance. Work order management plans can also help track actual costs for work being performed especially if third-par ty contractors are utilized. Volunteering programs could help maintain Belgrade parks. Adopt-a-park or adopt-a-trail are typical programs where local groups clean up trash, perform landscaping, and paint or maintain structures. Depar tment Revenue The current parks revenue is derived from the general tax fund as approved by the City Council, and from miscellaneous revenue from f ield rental Belgrade parks are managed by the Public Works Depar tment and funded by the general tax fund. When the future parks depar tment forms and a Parks District is created, park maintenance divisions and lines of ser vice should be expanded based on an increased budget. Operational Assessment Existing operations include maintenance of parks and special facilities. Existing divisions and lines of ser vice within Public Works that ser ves the parks include: • Citizen Inquiries • Equipment Maintenance • Facility Grounds Maintenance • Furniture, Fixtures, Systems (lighting, etc) and Equipment Maintenance and Repair • Irrigation Systems • Landscape Beautif ication • Park Building Maintenance • Park Permit/Special Event Facilitation • Playground Maintenance • Restroom Custodial Ser vices • Snow and Ice Removal • Turf Management With the individual park f indings in Chapter 5, future improvements, and the expected formation of a parks depar tment, recommended areas for expansion include: • Athletic Field - Game Preparation • Athletic Field Maintenance (Diamond and Multi- Purpose Fields) • Depar tment Special Event Suppor t • Dog Park Maintenance • Integrated Pest Management • Maintenance Yard Management 06. OPER ATIONAL & BUDGET ASSE SSMENT Maintenance recommendations and budget breakdown of cur rent parks funding ---PAGE BREAK--- 056 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 056 fees. With a dedicated park staff member preparing proposals for park and trail improvements, substantial revenue could be gained through applying for matching grants from a parks district and philanthropists. Local spor ts groups often reser ve f ield space in Belgrade, as f lexible green space is diff icult to secure in the region. To a lesser degree than grants or a park district, fees from f ield space rental, concessions, and pavilion rentals could be a future source of revenue from the parks in Belgrade. Staff ing Recommendations Parks in the City of Belgrade are currently maintained by Public Works. Due to grow th, community feedback, and the understaff ing found in a comparative analysis, a dedicated full-time Parks Depar tment Director and maintenance staff ing is recommended to be hired by the City of Belgrade. The Director would launch programs, focus on park maintenance and improvements, collaborate with neighboring communities, and facilitate park and trail planning. The director is recommended to work with a grant writer to pursue key improvements in Belgrade. Consultants are recommended to be hired to complete feasibility studies, park designs, trail designs, and recreational facilities. Ryen Glen Climbing Rock ---PAGE BREAK--- 057 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 057 Projected Growth With grow th areas and opportunity sites identif ied by the 2019 Grow th Policy, Belgrade will require additional parks and trails to align with projected grow th. New development can affect frequency of park visits and park condition. Economic studies show the positive effect of parks and trails on nearby users, and should always coincide with new development. According to Headwaters Economics, a independent, nonprof it research group, trails can benef it businesses through increased revenue and jobs, consumers through intrinsic value of a trail, proper ty owners through increase proper ty values, and residents through adjacent trail access. As Belgrade and the surrounding areas are growing, it is expected that a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will form. MPOs receive federal transpor tation funding, which could benef it trails and the connection of parks. When an MPO forms, recommended actions relating to parks and recreation include: • Establishing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisor y Committees (BPAC) • Following “Complete Streets” • Developing a bicycle master plan • Coordinating on parks and recreation with neighboring cities The Belgrade Long Range Transpor tation Plan made suggestions relating to alternative transpor tation to help relieve traff ic congestion: • Hosted bicycle education classes and been par t of public awareness campaigns • Programs that help residents f ind alternatives to their cars Capital Improvement Recommendations Current capital improvement plans for the parks are seen in Figure 10. After park inventor y and 07. GROW TH & CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Foreseen expansion of Belg rade leads to additional planning, budgeting, and studies Improvement Cost Targeted Year for Improvement Lewis & Clark Park Restroom $309,000 2019 Prairie View Park Restroom $233,400 2020 Lewis & Clark Parking Lot Paving $87,418 2021 Prescott Park Irrigation, Topsoil, Turf, and Parking Lot $572,875 2025 Prescott Park Restroom $313,667 2028 Sunnyside Park Restroom $311,593 2030 Fig ure 10: Cur rently planned capital improvements for Belg rade parks. assessment, recommendations are provided in addition to the current plans for capital improvements. To fulf ill the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, recommendations are prioritized into critical, shor t-term, and long-term recommendations. Prioritization was based on safety, ease of circulation, community input, and completion or enhancement of park design. Critical recommendations focus on basic safety issues primarily regarding playgrounds and circulation. Safe pedestrian paths and intersections are essential to parks and reduce liability. Shor t-term items relate to comfor t, aesthetics, and achieving the full potential of existing park spaces. Long-term recommendations should begin the planning process immediately, as more complex projects often require a longer investment period, effor t, coordination. ---PAGE BREAK--- 058 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 058 Cr itical Recommendations: Maintaining What We Have Manage the existing park system through completing high priority items such as safety issues and repairs or replacement of items in parks or facilities. PARK/LOCATION RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENT Cost School Intersections Improved crossings at middle school and high school per Long Range Transpor tation Plan $560,000 to $644,000 Jackrabbit Lane 1 underpass across railroad per Long Range Transpor tation Plan $17,000,000 to $19,550,000 Railroad Downtown 3 underpasses or overpasses across railroad $51,000,000 to $58,650,000 Crucial Pathways 30,000 linear feet of shared use path, 17700 linear feet of bike lane $4,770,000 to $5,485,500 Belgrade Youth Sports Complex Dog park and parking, 2 soccer f ields, 2 softball f ields, park signage, shared use path, sidewalks, crossing study, and crosswalk striping $2,763,600 to $3,178,140 Children’s Park Remove non-compliant spring rockers and playground surfacing per playground safety code, add compliant playground surfacing and edging, and perimeter walk $23,500 to $27,025 Clarkin Park Add sidewalk along West Madison Street and safe crossing at entr y nor thern and eastern driveways $17,900 to $20,585 Kathy Hollensteiner Memorial Park Replace sidewalk at entr y to be ADA compliant, and add compliant edging and engineered wood f iber in play areas $21,425 to $24,639 Kiwanis Park Remove playground surfacing per playground safety code, add compliant playground surfacing and edging, add crosswalk and sidewalk $21,200 to $24,380 Lewis and Clark Park Crosswalk striping, complete crossing study at Main Street for improved crossing treatment, remove playground surfacing per playground safety code, add compliant playground surfacing and edging, upgrade bathrooms, add perimeter sidewalks, and add fencing along Main Street across from playground $218,100 to $250,815 Lions Park Remove dome climber, remove playground surfacing per playground safety code, add compliant playground surfacing and edging, add sidewalk along West Cameron Avenue, add safe crossings at Nor th Weaver Street and Dr y Creek Road $41,800 to $48,070 Memorial Park Add sidewalks, install crosswalk, remove non-compliant spring rockers and playground surfacing per playground safety code, add compliant playground surfacing and edging $102,250 to $117,588 Miller Park Remove playground surfacing per playground safety code, add compliant playground surfacing, add crosswalks $11,800 to $13,570 Prairie View Park Add perimeter sidewalks, crosswalks, remove playground surfacing per playground safety code, and add compliant playground surfacing and edging $74,535 to $85,715 Prescott Park Add sidewalks to access the park before development $97,500 to $112,125 Quinella Park Add sidewalks along Quinella Street $17,400 to $20,010 Sunnyside Park Add sidewalks, remove playground surfacing per playground safety code, add compliant playground surfacing and edging $37,175 to $42,751 Triangle Park Add perimeter sidewalks and crosswalks $33,300 to $38,295 Winter Park Add sidewalks, fencing, and crosswalk $22,800 to $26,220 CRITICAL RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS TOTAL $76,834,285 to $88,359,428 ---PAGE BREAK--- 059 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 059 Shor t-ter m Recommendations: Streng thening What We Have Enhance the existing park system through expansion or addition of items through capital improvements when funding is available. PARK/LOCATION RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENT COST Jackrabbit Lane and Interstate 90 2 crosswalks at highway ramps, and western pedestrian connection along overpass per Belgrade Long Range Transpor tation Plan $3,000,000 to $3,450,000 W Madison Ave and Nevada St Crosswalk per Belgrade Long Range Transportation Plan $100,000 to $115,000 Amsterdam Road and Clovehitch Road Uncover existing pedestrian tunnel and connect to existing shared use path per Belgrade Long Range Transportation Plan $850,000 to $977,500 Secondar y Pathways 23,000 linear feet of shared use pathways, 22,000 linear feet of bike lanes $4,495,000 to $5,169,250 Belgrade Youth Sports Complex Add 50 parking spaces, 2 softball f ields, 2 crosswalk traff ic lights, new play equipment, seating, and trees $2,195,000 to $2,524,250 Children’s Park Add perimeter fencing, trash can, new seating, park signage, sidewalks, and new play equipment $75,900 to $87,285 Clarkin Park Add sidewalks, park signage at parking, parking lot crossing and landscaped islands, vegetative buffers and gazebo maintenance, new seating, relocate organization sign, and update corner sign $124,100 to $142,715 Kathy Hollensteiner Memorial Park Add vegetative buffer, bike racks, and trash can at shelter $25,200 to $28,980 Kiwanis Park Install sidewalk, fencing, paved parking lot, and park signage, and improve turf $106,905 to $122,941 Las Campanas Park Pave surface trail $420,000 to $483,000 Lewis and Clark Park Add sidewalks, vegetative screens, remove tennis cour t and replace with turf, repair shelters, replace signage, update play equipment, pave parking lot, utilize concessions stand $561,500 to $645,725 Lions Park Add sidewalk, new play equipment, vegetative buffer, bike racks, additional scoreboards, and shared use path along Dr y Creek Rd $934,200 to $1,074,330 McMillan Park Add vegetative buffer, park signage, and coordinate with local residents for added features or activities $32,500 to $37,375 Memorial Park Add new play equipment, park signage, playground signage, trees, mailbox pull-out area with landscaping, new seating, improve turf $104,720 to $120,428 Miller Park Add sidewalks, concrete edge, park signage, playground signage, and bike racks $15,400 to $17,710 Prairie View Park Add restrooms, water fountain, sidewalks, trash can, park signage, playground signage, and mailbox pull-out area with landscaping, and repair fencing $144,020 to $165,623 Prescott Park Add vegetative buffer adjacent to homes $165,000 to $189,750 Quinella Park Add sidewalks, mailbox pull-out area with landscaping, new playground, vegetative buffer, park signage, native plantings, and bridge over drainage swale. $299,420 to $344,333 Ryen Glenn Park Finish park development, add water fountain, grills at shelter $10,400 to $11,960 Sunnyside Park Add natural surface trail, park signage, bike racks, and seating $37,900 to $43,585 Triangle Park Remove tree, add trees, mailbox pull-out area with landscaping, and park signage $24,670 to $28,371 Winter Park Add vegetative buffer, trash can, park signage, mailbox pull-out area with landscaping $50,420 to $57,983 Undeveloped Park (abandoned landf ill) Hire consultant to design master plan through community engagement $20,000 to $23,000 SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS TOTAL $13,792,255 to $15,861,093 ---PAGE BREAK--- 060 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 060 Long-ter m Recommendations: Developing What We Have Implement the complete vision for the park system through building new parks, facilities, and trails. These improvements demonstrate recreational desires and interests of the community and can provide policy guidance during funding constraints. PARK/LOCATION RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENT Close proximity to school or downtown Indoor recreational facility and community center, size to accommodate the estimated 2050 population size, conduct feasibility study, building and site design Near new school on Bollinger Road Outdoor pool facility, size to accommodate the estimated 2050 population size, conduct feasibility study, building and site design Railroad and highway in western Belgrade area 3 tunnels or bridges to accommodate pedestrians and vehicles Jackrabbit Lane and W Custer Ave 1 pedestrian tunnel per Belgrade Long Range Transpor tation Plan Belgrade Youth Sports Complex 2 soccer f ields and 3 junior soccer f ields, 5 tennis cour ts, 30 parking spaces Prescott Park Develop master plan Quinella Park Develop master plan Future Parks Land acquisition, develop individual site plans Trails Conduct vehicle traff ic studies to help implement trail system Park and Trail Subdivision Reg ulations New subdivisions often have designated parks and/ or pathways as par t of the development. Belgrade has ver y limited park requirements for subdivisions, and currently no subdivision regulations for trails exist. Updates to zoning regulations relating to parks, trails, and landscaping are recommended. SUMMARY OF E XISTING PARK SUBDIVISION REGUL ATION Belgrade municipal code section 11- 6 -7 currently requires parks to be formed in new subdivisions depending on the size of the parcels. There is f lexibility for parks based on community need if the subdivision is in an area with density requirements identif ied by a grow th policy. Parks are not required for a minor subdivision, parcels that are 5 acres or larger, nonresidential parcels, proper ty with no parcels, and single parcel subdivisions. Per Belgrade code, developers are allowed to provide the City of Belgrade a cash donation in lieu of a land donation for a park. RECOMMENDED CHANGE S TO MUNICIPAL CODE Parks and trails are a vital piece of infrastructure to all types of development including neighborhoods, schools, and commercial areas. The following is a list of recommended updates to the subdivision regulations regarding parks and trails: • New developments are required to follow the Belgrade Parks and Recreation Master Plan, including the placement and development of trails and parks • Require minimum improvements for parks and trails including irrigation and planting ---PAGE BREAK--- 061 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 061 • Form a Belgrade Park and Trail Committee to review parks and trails in new subdivisions to ensure compliance with the Master Plan and recent standards for park and trail design • Require higher quality open space standards, and restrict cer tain areas from becoming a par t of the required park area, such as stormwater collection areas, f loodplains, or other environmentally sensitive areas • Tighten regulations to reduce the number of cash in lieu transactions • Bolster landscaping requirements in municipal code, including boulevard landscaping and streetscaping for subdivisions and commercial projects • Create standard planting and irrigation details for city projects • Require more stringent application requirements, including documentation and drawings for park and trail designs • Require Landscape Architect to provide professional stamp on drawings for parks and trails • Transfer scanned pages of municipal code to digitally searchable format on website • Provide recommended street tree list, while testing tree species sur vival and condition at Belgrade parks The municipal code recommendations are not comprehensive. Progressive standards in cities of similar size to Belgrade should be reviewed and catered towards the local community. Undeveloped Prescott Park ---PAGE BREAK--- 062 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 062 Precedence for a parks district in Montana exists in Billings, Great Falls, and Colstrip. The City of Billings parks maintenance district generates $1.9 million annually and the Great Falls Parks District Number 1 generates $1.5 million annually for the f irst three years. Parks districts is a special improvement district per the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) that can be effective for up to 20 years. In early 2019, the approximate total of assessed proper ty value in the Belgrade School district was $2,450,110,999, which includes both residential and commercial properties. The estimated revenue char t in Figure 11 illustrates potential base annual revenue from a parks district, amounts which could be eligible for matching grants and bonds. To meet the maintenance and development needs of the parks and trail system in Belgrade, major steps need to be taken to fund a parks depar tment and the planned improvements. A collaborative effor t is needed for planning, fundraising, and public education. Funding Options Special Improvement Districts (SID) and grants could be a major funding source for the City of Belgrade. Revenues from programs, concessions, and rental fees often aren’t large enough to match expenditures of a department, capital improvements, and maintenance. SIDs and grants are the main focus of the funding options. A park district, a type of SID, would open up oppor tunities for matching grants and bonds. SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRIC TS A Special Improvement District (SID) is a collection of properties where owners make payments for public improvements. The Montana Annotated Code (MCA) describes the how SIDs can be used in local government in section 7-12- 41. Belgrade can use SIDs to fund parks and recreation according to the MCA. PARKS AND TR AILS DISTRIC T Maintenance and improvements for Belgrade parks is currently funded through the city’s general fund. A large number of people living outside city limits travel to Belgrade for shopping, school functions, and other activities. City parks have been receiving wear over the years and need increased maintenance due to grow th. There has been an inf lux of people who are using the parks yet not paying taxes toward the general fund which helps ser vice the parks. The formation of a parks district is recommended to f inancially suppor t existing parks and to acquire land for new parks and recreation facilities. A parks district could f inancially suppor t the hiring of a Belgrade parks and recreation director, who could in turn establish a revenue f low through programming. With funding from a parks district, matching grants could help fund capital improvements. 08. FUNDING & COLLABOR ATION STR ATEGIE S List of funding sources and local g roups for potential collaboration Proper ty Value $30 annual fee $40 annual fee $50 annual fee $150,000 $490,022 $653,363 $816,704 $200,000 $367,517 $490,022 $612,528 $250,000 $294,013 $392,018 $490,022 In Belgrade and the surrounding area, a public education campaign would be benef icial to inform the public of the proposed district projects and the potential f inancial capacity. The Proposed Parks District matches the footprint of the school district, which includes county land. Exact boundaries should be studied for feasibility and vetted in a public process. Par tnership between the City of Belgrade and Gallatin County would be advised for the long- term future of a parks district. If a parks district was established, a parks district board would be Fig ure 11: Potential base revenue amounts from a parks distr ict ---PAGE BREAK--- 063 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 063 Proposed Parks District PROPOSED PARKS DISTRICT ---PAGE BREAK--- 064 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 064 formed, and a Gallatin County representative is recommended to par ticipate on the board. POOL AND RECREATION FACILIT Y The public sur vey showed strong suppor t for a public pool and some mentions for the ability to recreate indoors. The Montana Annotated Code (MCA) has a provision for creating a Special Improvement District (SID) to fund a “municipal swimming pool and other recreation facilities” per 7-12- 4102. To gain a pool facility in Belgrade, a separate SID is recommended to fund a feasibility study, land acquisition, design and construction, and maintenance. A feasibility study or a public campaign about the costs, liability, and potential location is recommended. GR ANTS Local projects could be eligible for grants, which often match the amount that is already dedicated toward a project. Possible future grants for Belgrade parks, programs, and trails include: • Federal Land Access Program (FLAP) • NPS Challenge Cost Share Program • NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conser vation Assistance • Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) • Non-Motorized Safety Grant • Transportation Alternatives (TAP or TA Set-Aside) • Recreational Trails Program (RTP) • Land and Water Conser vation Fund- State Side • Montana Fish & Wildlife Conser vation Trust • People for Bikes Community Grants • American Greenways Grants • National Trails Fund Grants • Doppelt Family Trail Development Fund • BF Goodrich Tires Outstanding Trails Grant • NFF Matching Awards Program (MAP) • REI Stewardship Grants • Meet Me at the Park Play Spaces Grant • Substance Misuse Community of Practice • Safe Places to Play Grants • Rober t Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Sports Award Program • Best Buy Community Grants Program • EPA Smart Grow th Funding Oppor tunity • Sprouts Neighborhood Grants Program • Pool Safely Grant Program • Rural Community Development Initiative Grant Program • Tony Hawk Foundation Skatepark Grants • Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BT W) Grants • Baseball Tomorrow Fund/Major League Baseball Field Maintenance Education Program • Looking Out Foundation Grants • Polaris T.R.A.I.L.S. Grants • Surplus Real Proper ty and Personal Proper ty Donation Programs • Common Counsel Foundation: Still We Rise Fund • CAN’d Aid Crush It Crusade Grants • Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program – Rural Communities • Keep America Beautiful’s Community Restoration and Resiliency Fund • United States Tennis Association (USTA) Facility Assistance Program Funding from a parks and trails district would increase the likelihood of success for grant applications. The Belgrade parks and trails system will need bolstered funding to f irst address deferred maintenance and current needs and then plan for expansion due to population grow th. OTHER FUNDING SOURCE S Funding can come from a variety of sustainable sources or even one-time donations. Possible funding options include: • Public-private par tnerships • Corporate and private donations • User fees and program fees • Adver tising sales • Irrevocable remainder trusts • Bonds • Sales tax • Lease backs • Franchise fee for utility rights of way • Catering permits and ser vices • Private concessionaires operating with a land lease • Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district Collaboration The planning, fundraising, and public education for parks and trails will need to be a collaborative effor t between local groups and government entities. Groups that can collaborate with the City of Belgrade on carr ying out the Parks Master Plan include: ---PAGE BREAK--- 065 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 065 • Belgrade Aquatic Center • Belgrade Community Coalition • Belgrade Farmer’s Market • Belgrade Garden Club • Belgrade Parks Board • Belgrade Senior Center • Belgrade / Bozeman / Gallatin County Planning Coordination Committee (PCC) • Gallatin Valley Land Trust • Gallatin County Conser vation and Parks • Gallatin County GIS • Gallatin Health Coalition • Local spor ts clubs This list is not exhaustive, but a star ting reference point for interested par ties to connect with each other. Climbing Boulder at Kathy Hollensteiner Memorial Park ---PAGE BREAK--- 066 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 066 APPENDIX A: MARCH 2019 PUBLIC SURVEY RE SULTS The following sur vey data was collected from an online sur vey, which was available to the public from March 14, 2019 - April 12, 2019. The sur vey included questions relating to the 2019 Grow th Policy and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, but parks and recreation questions are only listed in this section. The results include responses from multiple choice questions and open-end questions. Discussion about trends, high priorities, and implications of the results are included in Chapter 3, Community Needs Assessment. ---PAGE BREAK--- 067 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 067 Multiple Choice Questions Respondents Response Percent 1) Would you let your children bike or walk to school, parks, or local shops alone if there was a safe route? a. Yes 432 79.12% b. No 114 20.88% 2) Where do you go for recreational fun when you are not at home, work, or school during the WARM months? a. Establishments in Belgrade (gym, indoor rec facilities) 19 3.46% b. Establishments in Bozeman (gym, indoor rec facilities) 45 8.20% c. Outdoors in Belgrade 129 23.50% d. Outdoors in Bozeman 118 21.49% e. Elsewhere in Montana 195 35.52% f. Other 43 7.83% 3) Where do you go for recreational fun when you are not at home, work, or school during the COLD months? a. Establishments in Belgrade (gym, indoor rec facilities) 60 11.07% b. Establishments in Bozeman (gym, indoor rec facilities) 191 35.24% c. Outdoors in Belgrade 50 9.23% d. Outdoors in Bozeman 64 11.81% e. Elsewhere in Montana 120 22.14% f. Other 57 10.52% 4) When was the last time you or your household used any Belgrade area parks? a. In the past week 67 12.25% b. In the past month 60 10.97% c. In the past 2-3 months 55 10.05% d. In the past 6 months 141 25.78% e. In the past year 119 21.76% f. More than a year ago 63 11.52% g. Never 42 7.68% Respondents Response Percent 5) How often do you or your household visit Belgrade area parks? a. 1-5 visits per year 243 45.85% b. 6 -10 visits per year 72 13.58% c. 11-20 visits per year 86 16.23% d. 21-50 visits per year 67 12.64% e. 50+ visits per year 62 11.70% 6) I visit parks in and around Belgrade___________. a. To be close to nature 17 3.20% b. To exercise and be physically active 50 9.42% c. To spend time with family or friends 231 43.50% d. To attend an event, class, or spor ts game 113 21.28% e. To spend time with or exercise my dog(s) 84 15.82% f. Other 36 6.78% 7) Do you use any private proper ty or facility (school ball f ields, empty private lot) for recreation? a. Yes 227 41.58% b. No 319 58.42% 8) Your home is a public park. a. Within walking distance? 296 54.41% b. Within biking distance? 74 13.60% c. Too far away to walk or bike? 174 31.99% 9) How do you usually get to a public park? a. Walk 222 41.42% b. Drive 264 49.25% c. Bike 38 7.09% d. Public transpor tation 1 0.19% e. Jog/run 3 0.56% f. Taxi/carpool 0 0.00% g. Rollerblade/skate 2 0.37% h. Other 6 1.12% ---PAGE BREAK--- 068 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 068 Respondents Response Percent 10) What mostly affects how much you use parks in the Belgrade area? a. Proximity 139 26.18% b. The park's activities or facilities 235 44.26% c. Dog friendliness 67 12.62% d. Crowds 64 12.05% e. Unaware of park location/activities 26 4.90% 11) What types of amenities and improvements are most needed in Belgrade area parks? a. Shelters and Seating 40 7.72% b. Restrooms 68 13.13% c. Pet friendliness 56 10.81% d. Cleanliness/Maintenance 33 6.37% e. Accessibility for wheelchairs 0 0.00% f. More or improved playgrounds or specialized play area 82 15.83% g. Better lighting and walks for safety 18 3.47% h. Parking 15 2.90% i. All of the above 206 39.77% 12) Trees have many health and community benef its. Would you contribute to a tree fund to plant more trees in Belgrade? a. Yes 400 73.94% b. No 141 26.06% 13) In addition to federal, state, and grant funding, what strategy would you suppor t the most to fund park and trail improvements? a. Park Maintenance District 269 51.04% b. Non-prof it fundraising 268 50.85% c. Private-public Par tnerships 236 44.78% d. Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Trail programs 264 50.09% e. Sponsorship through adver tising 218 41.37% f. Facility rental fees 214 40.61% g. Volunteers 227 43.07% h. Sales tax 206 39.09% i. Revenue from concessions 217 41.18% Respondents Response Percent 14) How much would you be willing to contribute to a Park Maintenance District per year to fund park and trail improvements? a. $0 72 13.58% b. $1-10 118 22.26% c. $11-$20 125 23.58% d. $20 -$30 107 20.19% e. More than $30 108 20.38% ---PAGE BREAK--- 069 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 069 Open-ended Questions What programs, events, or facilities do you think Belgrade Parks and Recreation should offer? 1. Clean bathroom facilities 2. Signage to parks would be great, kids after school program like YMCA, swimming pool, off leash dog parks, cross countr y skiing trails, sidewalks from the airport to downtown Belgrade, signage from the airpor t to points of interest in Belgrade 3. Kid friendly activities, group spor ts for all ages, an indoor play space for winter 4. Organized rec spor ts for all ages. Community events, music, theater, etc. 5. Group f itness classes in the park in the summer after work 6. We need a swimming pool!!! 7. Swim center. We love Lewis and Clark park. Bigger splash park area. 8. Clean bathrooms, family activities 9. I wish I could have chosen more than one response on some of these. I would suppor t fundraising of any kind in addition to adver tising. What Belgrade parks need most are fences! Something besides a berm between Lewis and Clark park and Main Street. 10. Swimming pool 11. More athletes based park, but not spor ts like soccer or baseball. Like a spar tan training park 12. Dog parks are needed. We have to drive to bozeman to get the dog outside 13. Public pool, children play structures 14. Paintball, group activities, 15. Belgrade needs a swimming pool. 16. Just having a place for people to use as they like would be great. A dog park would also be so great. 17. Outdoor concer t venue 18. Farmers market, craft fairs, lecture series, 19. Outdoor summer concer t series and a trail that circumnavigates the city (connecting the parks). I would love to see the city land along Yellowstone be planted full of trees and maybe a pond or something plus a sheltered picnic venue for larger groups. 20. It would be fantastic if Belgrade would offer youth programs like the Bozeman parks and rec depar tment offers. I would rather suppor t my community with my money rather than Bozeman! 21. Offer just specif ic parks for people with kids and a separate park for people with dogs. There have been to many people allowing their dogs of leash, not cleaning up after them, and allowing them to run up to people when they aren’t friendly! Personally, I hate using a park that allows dogs because the owners are so inconsiderate and then get mad when you say something. 22. Swimming pool 23. Co-Ed Softball league 24. A Community Event Center that can be used for family reunions or such like celebrations 25. Weekend family friendly events 26. Expand skate park 27. Trails!!! 28. Indoor basketball and soccer facilities and outdoor baseball f ields 29. The Belgrade community Market has been such an asset to Belgrade that I hope that continues this summer again. Also I feel that some of the smaller parks are lacking shade whether it’s from a shelter or trees, and some of them don’t have any seating. 30. With young kids it’s hard to walk to the parks that don’t have bathrooms because a long walk home isn’t a reasonable solution when a child has to go “now”. I was also ver y disappointed in how Sunnyside Park was changed after the on-ramp was built. 31. Many trees were cut down, the walking trail was taken away, and a path from Idaho Street to the park was never made once a condo was built on the existing path. 32. Concerts 33. Outdoor concer t venue 34. A pool for competition and recreation! 35. Public pool, dog park 36. I would love to see more walking trail available 37. A public swimming pool 38. Pool, amphitheater, basketball cour ts, running trails 39. Outdoor Music 40. The focus should be kids and not dogs. Park maintenance is key. Many of the play structures have nothing under them for fall mitigation. 41. A city pool!!! 42. More park equipment and amenities 43. Music on Main 44. Pickleball (fast growing and this could be a regional draw for tournments), dog park, cross countr y skiing, swimming pool for older kids, community gardens. 45. Swimming 46. Swimming pool 47. Ice skating rink either indoor or outdoor 48. A children’s rec program like Bozeman has (classes, f ield trips, spor ts, etc). Also the park areas should ne f wmced for safety, especially near main roads (Lewis & Clark park seriously needs a fence by the busy Main Street!) 49. Belgrade needs a pool. The trails by the airpor t need to be paved. A trail to Bozeman needs to be constructed. People need to get off their butts and go out and enjoy what is already there. 50. Traditional youth and adult spor ts programs such as coed softball, basketball, volleyball and others. 51. Music in the park, basketball cour ts, 52. Food truck gatherings 53. Restrooms. More toddler friendly equipment. 54. Kids camps 55. movie in the park 56. Kids camps, cross countr y skiing activities (the new Ryen Glennn park would be good for that), cameras at parks to deter vandalism ---PAGE BREAK--- 070 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 070 57. Movie night in the park. Community pool. Bigger ice rink. Golf course. 58. Better playgrounds, Pool, 59. Trail system, bigger water park, more basketball cour ts 60. Bathrooms and the city should look into managing the recreation type events to provide more access to the whole community instead of clubs 61. Enter tainment, updated playground equipment and seating 62. Attractive landscaping and cleanliness. 63. Pools!! Swimming lessons along with a recreation area like Spash Montana in Missoula and the one that opened last summer in Butte. Belgrade is in DESPER ATE need of a pool! 64. Dog park, pool, trail system, community garden and summer time children’s activities. 65. Family friendly events. A dog park in Belgrade. 66. Outside music events 67. Bike trails / Swimming pool 68. city organized events such as city league basketball, softball, football, and other events that families can par ticipate in 69. We go to the park for the car show and fair-type thing in the warmer months 70. We need a better skate park for the kids. 71. Music 72. Swimming pool 73. music in the parks, family night, movie nights.... all w/ vendor type snacks or food. 74. Age appropriate recreational & outdoor learning activities, community gatherings, craft shows, splash park… 75. swimming pool 76. Swimming pool 77. Belgrade could really use a recreation program for youth similar to what Bozeman offers. A one stop shop, per see, where we can sign our kids up for activities outside of school. A swimming pool would be amazing! As many of us tire of having to go into Bozeman for these activities. A community center that isn’t subject to the school districts calendar would also be nice but the Special Events center seems to do ok hosting our community for now. 78. It would be great to have local summer recreation programs/camps that kids of all ages can take par t in. We also really need a pool (which I know is going to be commented by more than just myself). 79. A community pool. 80. Green grass.....Lots of green grass 81. Tennis fressbee golf 82. Kids spor ts (like soccer in the summer) 83. Fitness oppor tunities (Pull up bars, etc.) 84. pool 85. Dog park 86. More than bozeman 87. More softball f ields; sand volleyball cour ts, basketball courts 88. Pool 89. Skate swim tennis 90. Better side walks, parks on the nor th end of jackrabbit. Dog park in town, any indoor play area open on Sundays. 91. Larger baseball f ields 92. Music events 93. A swimming pool!! 94. Belgrade Summer Nights!!! 95. Outdoor recreation classes, outdoor music events, craft teaching events. 96. Better farmers market, concert or music venue, dinners on the lawn complete with various food trucks, 97. Music in the park, food truck Friday and more kids activities 98. Pool 99. Swimming pool 100. More ball f ields. Softball and baseball. So many kids are involved and we don’t have enough f ields 101. More bike and walking paths throughout the city. Shakespeare in the Parks. 102. More runs/races in and around Belgrade. More festivals in downtown would be nice as well 103. Live music, movies in the park, dog training and competitions, off leash dog park with pond they can cool off in. 104. Softball and baseball f ields. The local program depends on the kindness of the school and the arbitrar y lease amount the current Athletic Director decides to charge. 105. Trails 106. Indoor/ outdoor swimming pool . Open year round 107. public pool 108. Yoga. Kids days. Pets day. 109. Pool, roller and skating rink, bowling, rock climbing kid park outdoors 110. Youth programs 111. Theatre and 112. There is a large area near Wyoming St in Las Campanas that ever yone in the neighborhood uses to throw frisbees or play with their dogs. It’s just a f ield of weeds and gophers. It would be great to have grass and trees but keep it mostly open. 113. Clean bathrooms and maintained parks. 114. Theater or musical events 115. Lewis and Clark Park is the closest to where we live and we enjoy going there in the summer. The splash park is great but it gets too crowded at times. Perhaps if we also had a public pool in Belgrade, that would help with the crowding. The same goes for River Rock Pond. For the winter months, we love the ice rink and have had no issues or concerns there. 116. Children 2 and under activities 117. Family fun 118. Pool 119. Community pool. Movie night in the park 120. A pool What programs, events, or facilities do you think Belgrade Parks and Recreation should offer? Continued ---PAGE BREAK--- 071 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 071 121. Belgrade needs a city owned Softball complex and a swimming pool. 122. Music in the park evenings, plays eyc 123. Summer camps, athletics for young ones 124. More music in the parks, similar to Linch on the Lawn at the Emerson. Open mics, comedy shows, skateboarding lessons and events, family events! Love the Farmers Market and the Fall festival! 125. Dog parks, movie in the park, Farmers markets with lots of food /veggie options, game nights 126. Concerts 127. Dog park. Disc golf. 128. Amphitheaters for small concer ts and plays. More covered eating areas. More open play areas. Trees. Dog parks. 129. Water features for kids. Better restrooms 130. More community events would be nice. A bike path from the River Rock area would be a nice addition. 131. Lessons for dog owners on how to clean up after their pets and smokers on how to properly dispose of cigarette butts. 132. Youth facility, music performances, age appropriate play equipment at Lewis and Clark park, outdoor pool. 133. I honestly think we need a pool. The splash park is amazing in the summer and I know costly. But if we had a indoor pool it could be year round and at say 15 $person it could pay for itself. The splash park is packed all summer..the pool would be too. 134. Swimming pool 135. Children’s enrichment park 136. More kid friendly activities 137. A trail system for running and walking 138. Swimming pool! 139. We don’t need any parks 140. Trails. 141. At least fence existing “dog park” 142. Public pond for f ishing and swimming. More softball/baseball f ields 143. HRDC free lunch in River Rock during the summer 144. A pond for kids/families to f ish and recreate. Possible event space. Hiking/ski trails that allow for better outdoor recreation in all seasons. Would be cool to have a place where are people can learn about native plant and trees, histor y of Belgrade, and have a place to learn and spend time outdoors. 145. Swimming pool. Bike trails. 146. None, parks are way over rated in this area, people would rather go to nearby mountains 147. LARGE farmers market 148. The youth spor ts complex is a great star t, as is Lewis & Clark. Some thing like Bogert park with multiple amenities -pool, covered blacktop for skating (wheels in summer, ice in winter), playground, bandshell, open space, walking path, parking area. 149. Baseball, soccer, basketball, and rugby 150. Coed spor ting events 151. A sled hill, we are so f lat our poor kids only have the one option for sledding by the roundabouts 152. tricycle races 153. Swimming pool 154. Kid oriented programs, walking trails 155. More covered picnic area. Better bathrooms 156. Bandshell/amphitheater 157. Dog-friendly public events 158. Swimming pool or bowling alley 159. More handicap accessibility. For instance when there are car shows in the f ield behind the tennis cour ts, you can’t get a wheel chair through there to see the cars. There also should be more play equipment for the handicap. 160. More activities like splash park. 161. Dog park 162. Pool, more softball and baseball f ields. Our community Bozeman and Belgrade has more soccer f ields than you can shake a stick at. Especially with the new school bond which appears to be adding even more soccer f ields. 163. Thursday fest type block “party” with music, food trucks and family fun 164. More dog ONLY parks 165. Group f itness classes and kid spor ts 166. Indoor/outdoor swimming pool. 1park for dogs...the rest for human beings.Patks with more equipment for kids. 167. Kids camp, outside concer ts 168. More community enter tainment 169. Toddler friendly equipment 170. Community pool 171. Spor ts f ields that aren’t always booked with outside of Belgrade teams. Dedicated dog park 172. Drag strip 173. Activities for young children and families 174. Music, fun day activities for kids and family’s, spor ts 175. Walking/bike path interconnectivity. Off leash dog areas. 176. Local concer ts and venues 177. The ice rink is great keep it up. Many of the current parks have too small of grass area for things such as kite f lying frisbee or f ield games 178. Swimming Pool 179. Swimming pool 180. More bike paths/ lanes 181. An indoor/outdoor multiple use cour t facility. Basketball, tennis. An indoor community pool. 182. Belgrade needs the facilities f irst, but then allowing programming that allows families to stay in the area would be great. Catch families in the early years with toddlers and you have them until elementar y. Target homeschool as well. 183. More natural areas with wildlife habitat. What programs, events, or facilities do you think Belgrade Parks and Recreation should offer? Continued ---PAGE BREAK--- 072 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 072 184. Music venues 185. Festivals 186. Community events 187. Belgrade needs a SMART and coherent urban plan grow th system. Parks & Recreation areas should be MANDATORY for new developments to make more kind the urban fabric. New developments in large scale are rising from the ground (Prescott, and Hensen Subv.), and they have no space planned for public spaces. 188. walking/jogging trails/loops that connect the parks, housing developments and business districts...and LEASH LAWS. I shouldn’t have to drive to Bozeman, Manhattan, Three Forks or Churchill to f ind trails to walk and jog on. 189. Better and more baseball f ields. Baseball tourneys being in revenue for the town as well. 190. Pool 191. More softball/baseball f ields. Maybe a volleyball cour ts or indoor gyms 192. A public pool 193. Organized spor ts, summer camps and workshops. 194. Swimming, trails 195. Dog park, walking trails 196. I’m not sure this falls under ‘parks,’ but I think bike trails are the biggest thing Belgrade needs. Especially a safe way to bike to Bozeman. If I had a safe way to commute on my bike I would never drive a car. 197. Establish themselves as a an actual depar tment f irst. They don’t seem to have much gravitas in the local government and it shows when they can’t maintain what they have or make considerable decisions about the future. 198. Would be nice if we had a pool 199. Connector trail to Bozeman 200. Tennis cour ts, organized sports facilities 201. Off leash dog Park 202. Trails 203. Trails! Trails that connect to other trails - Bozeman, Four Corners, Manhattan, etc. TR AILS, 204. We need accessible sidewalks down Thorpe and Amsterdam 205. Ar t fairs, farmer’s markets, free music events 206. Egg hunt, movie theatre, coffee shop/baker y, community pool. Basketball cour ts. 207. Swim center. Different activities at parks for variety of age ranges. 208. We need walking/activity trails. Would also like improved bike trails on main roads (like dr y creek into Belgrade) 209. Concerts, outdoor movies, more places to ice skate, roller skating rink. 210. Due to the lack of infastructure I can’t see them offering much. I think they need to star t small and work up. Have activities at different parks.....traveling playground. Get a partnership with the schools and have arts and crafts, 211. Look at Boise ID and Meridian ID parks. Much of the money for their parks has been donated from private, albeit, ver y wealthy families, but we miss the parks there. Specif ically Settlers Park, Kleiner Park, and Iv y Wild Park. This area needs a Park with a pool (to play in, not just for laps), with a kiddie splash pool. More people would visit local businesses near the pool/Park to take kids to lunch after or make quick grocer y store stops. Boise offered this not only in amazing city parks, but also indoor options at the YMCAs. 212. Swimming pool. Basketball cour ts 213. Water park 214. More ice skating rinks on the east side 215. An outdoor movie night. I take my dog to the Hear t of the Animal dog park a lot (more than the 20 -50 I answered) because I wasn’t sure if it was considered a Belgrade park. A park with a pool, an indoor park, a roller skating rink. I’d really like to see more things to do in the Belgrade area. 216. Public pool, market, outdoor movies 217. Kids spor ts, music pavilion, trails 218. year round swimming pool 219. We need more activity areas in parks that are missing equipment. Bathrooms are lacking. It would be nice to have more sports offered at our local parks. Tennis cour ts, basketball cour ts, horseshoes, walking trails. 220. Trails for walking, running, and biking. 221. We do not need more parks in Belgrade we need to improve our road system. 222. dog park 223. music venue 224. ar t in the park, farmers market, more accommodating for dogs 225. Nordic Trails, more bike trails (not just sidewalks but actual bike trails). Bike and Nordic classes. It’s be great if we had a pool w/ swim programs and also rock climbing. 226. Water park-pool 227. Music in the park 228. Spor ts and recreation leagues - proceeds can go to parks and trails. 229. A public skating area that can be roller skating in the summer and ice skating in the winter 230. Adventure course, comedy in the park, something for all ages 231. Lewis & Clark Park and the Splash Pad need a major overhaul/upgrade. That one park would make a huge difference in the feel of downtown Belgrade! 232. A seminar to explain how the growing town has no money for schools, and f irst responders, let alone parks. Mills are not intended to be a yearly ballot issue to offset mismanagement. 233. Softball f ields, and walking paths 234. A dog park 235. Pool 236. focus on natural/wild/native/edible landscaping, connections between parks, safe routes, community gardens 237. I think we could use more parks, in general, as Belgrade grows. My kids are little so I only know about what spots are available now (we drive 20 minutes to get to cool places to run around). I think programs would be great, but I don’t have specif ic comments yet. 238. Running/walking trails, a more interesting farmer’s market, volleyball cour ts 239. Thank you! What programs, events, or facilities do you think Belgrade Parks and Recreation should offer? Continued ---PAGE BREAK--- 073 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 073 Any other thoughts on grow th or parks and recreation facilities? 1. With the way that the town is growing, more parks will really enhance the childhood experience of our young people. 2. We need both badly 3. Walking trails 4. Bike trails 5. Trails!!! 6. More trails outside city limits 7. We have so many dog parks in this valley. Can we take care of the kids? 8. Would love more biking walking trails 9. The land on Jackrabbit that used to be owned by Louisiana Pacif ic should by a big Central Park with a community center. 10. require developers to install neighborhood parks and make a plan for trails that developers have to include and incorporate. Install sidewalks in all neighborhoods. 11. Plan safe passage for kids to schools. Include bike lanes on main routes. 12. Traff ic congestion must be addressed, quickly 13. Connect parks through trails! 14. Safe trail between belgrade and 4Dot for walking or biking. Highway too narrow and unsafe. 15. We need summer programs for kids. 16. It would be great to have a space that could be used for events such as the farmers market that has more parking. Lewis & Clark Park is a great venue, but the parking aspect is an issue. After working with the current farmers market (so, personal experience) a new park or an upgrade to an existing park that includes functional bathrooms, good parking, space for a couple food trucks, and convenient access to electricity I think is necessar y in our growing community. We need parks, and we need events in those parks, to improve the sense of community here (and save people from going to Bozeman for ever y thing). Another thought, could the old f ire station be used as off ices for community ser vices such as a Parks & Rec Depar tment, the BCC, or the Farmer’s Market? It would be nice to keep that as a public building, and not private if possible since it’s in such an ideal location next to the park. Looking for ward to seeing what you guys do! 17. Biking and walking trails with some shade would be fantastic. There is no way to walk or bike any where in this town without ever almost being run over. I would never let children bike to any location by themselves. Would be nice to have some food/concessions at parks to make it a family event. Ice cream car t, something like that. No place to go now except that place on Broadway 18. Waist dispensers, walking paths, pickle ball cour ts, 19. bozeman shouldnt hold monopoly on live music. create a venue for live shows. local bands will star t, over time bigger names with come 20. Required open park space in new subdivisions 21. It would be nice to have a bowling alley or something more since the areas around us are growing with activities for families and youth. 22. Need to broaden the f inancial net and require users such as SOCCER to pay their fair share. 23. We need more gym space for youth athletics and an event center 24. Dog park? 25. Keep up on infrastructure (roads and such) with grow th of population. Commercial grow th to the nor th and south would be great as well. 26. Additional taxes is not the answer. We are in Belgrade not Bozeman because of their massive taxes. Recently Bozeman City is considering another signif icant tax to help maintain for all the parks and trails. Let it be done though private-nonprof it fundraising. 27. Thank you for listening to the community! 28. My taxes are way out of control. I will not pay another dime more than I have to to live here. And you think I’m going to pay for a tree??! 29. HOPEFULLY WITH THE PARKS IDEA, IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO SIDEWALKS, STREETS, AND STOP LIGHTS. 30. The streets infrastructure is what turned me away from living in Belgrade. If there is a way that the streets can be upgraded to suppor t the amount of traff ic in and out of the city, I believe it would be attractive for small businesses to move in especially in city center. 31. More lights 32. Swim center 33. Thanks for all of the hard work going into this process and intentionally making Belgrade a great place in the future. 34. Belgrade’s downtown has some really cool things, but the train side of main looks kind of ghetto. Is there any way to clean it up a bit (maybe add a park instead of the vacant lot at the intersection of main/frontage and broadway)? 35. I would like to see new parks developed with all the new construction 36. I love Lewis and Clark Park - the wading pool is wonderful and I take my grandchildren often. I also like that the skateboarders have a place to go - it should probably be expanded. Nice picnic area and I love the community events (i.e. farmers market, fall festival). Play area could use some TLC, but is still good. Parking is good, except during the bigger events (but, we walk over any way). We need more practice f ields to encourage kids in sports (i.e. soccer). We need a “summer in the parks” program to get kids outdoors in the summer months. Would love to see more enter tainment in our parks (music, theater). 37. Belgrade needs a better road system. At the current rate of grow th Belgrade at 5pm is a nightmare. I avoid going any where in Belgrade because the road system is horrible. 38. and for a young family there is no source of entertainment. no bowling, roller skating etc for clean fun. 39. It would be wonderful to have activities for older kids like a pool or roller skating. 40. Keep a completely separate park for people to take their dogs and make it completely enclosed so they can let them run off leash. That would help to keep the parks for kids cleaner and you wouldn’t have to worr y about a possible bite incident! 41. Just that we would love more outdoor places especially trails in the area. I travel to Bozeman to use their trails ver y frequently. 42. Tr y to make as many multi use facilities as possible that can be used different times of the year. I live near softball f iends and they sit empty the majority of the time. 43. Belgrade needs some recreational activities for after school, year round (a swimming pool comes to mind). ---PAGE BREAK--- 074 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 074 44. We put a high value on good park space. When searching for a house to buy, we looked at nearby parks before making a decision. We like open space, but we also like space with trees and water. We also like kid playplaces and soccer f ields (so long as the f ields are f lat and maintained). The Ryen Glennn park is pretty good, but it keeps being vandalized and the f ield area is not f lat and would not be safe for running on. When that park fully transitions to a city park, it will need continued work. 45. Golf course, camping area, new spor ts complex for softball, baseball and picnic area 46. Bike trail between Belgrade and Bozeman!!!! 47. I do not live in Belgrade but I work in Belgrade so my priorities are probably different. I would love more lunch options and happy hour options to contribute economically to this area. I usually head to Bozeman as soon as I’m out of work. 48. Needs more shops and restaurants downtown to attract visitors, real estate off ices don’t attract visitors or make people want to head to Main in Belgrade to spend time and browse 49. A foot/running/biking path along the frontage road into town would be awesome and we would use it ALL the time. We live on Timothy 50. It would be nice to see an attempt to better connect the community, ie schools, parks and recreation facilities, neighborhoods and major employers with the use of bike paths and trails. 51. Creative funding solutions are mandator y, the town will only accept so much tax, the city only has so much staff and money in the coffers. The gaps will need to be f illed from grass roots organizations and private individuals, companies, or trusts for public par tnerships 52. More spor ts areas- b-ball, tennis cour ts, walking and running areas, nature sanctuaries, community gardens, roller and skateboard areas, more fallfest type events. 53. So much building going on with no thoughts to roadways. 54. Housing NEEDS to be affordable. Belgrade also needs larger businesses that would also bring traff ic to us from Bozeman, etc. 55. movie theater, bowling alley, 56. movie theater, bowling ally, 57. Keep infrastructure ahead of grow th. Roads like jackrabbit south of main, do something about the railroad crossings through downtown. Perhaps an underpass? Stop light at main and Broadway. 58. The Dotted i is a great nonprof it fundraiser if that route is persued. 59. I really appreciate the idea of gathering money for the parks from a larger area of Belgrade. Belgrade has outgrown its limits, and there are so many people outside the limits using the parks. It seems unfair to only get money from that small amount of people in limits when ever yone is using the facilities. We visit the parks in Las Campanas frequently and will gladly contribute to more green spaces. Please consider the large space near Wyoming and Hawaii streets. Thanks! 60. More equipment is needed at parks . A small pool similar to frog pool park in miles city . A center for indoor rental from public/private events 61. Make the huge open space by Las Campanas a dog park. 62. Hire more law enforcement to get the drug dealers out 63. As Gallatin County grows, is like to see Belgrade maintain its personality with an increase in outdoor community offerings and trail system for community cohesion 64. Belgrade is not the red-headed step child of Bozeman. We need more people who treat this place like home. Make this town a hometown. 65. Traff ic is a problem so grow th can’t happen until the traff ic f low is taken care of. 66. Trails connecting the outer subdivision to the parks 67. Would love more running and biking trails 68. Would love to see a dog park 69. Use the space for affordable housing not parks! 70. I would love to have walking trails in Belgrade 71. The parks need to be upgraded with new equipment all ages can safely play on. Also need more trash cans around the skate park. 72. I think our Parks board has done a wonderful job! We have a lot of great parks! 73. The parks are full of dog poop, it’s disgusting. Area restroom facilities are poor to none, and there’s not nearly enough parking. 74. It would be great if we had larger shoulders on the roads to encourage biking and more trails for walking and running. Also, I think it would be wonderful to groom a nordic ski trail on the new soccer f ields(I see ski tracks there regularly during the winter). 75. Live far enough away that this isnt an issue. Have our own park away from hustle and bustle of city. Too many weirdos that hang out at belgrade parks anymore. Wouldnt feel safe there any ways. 76. Please don’t use precious outdoor athletic space for a dog park! 77. The Greenview Estates SUB PH1 Park Area needs to be developed into a park, it has been neglected for decades and money was put in by the homeowners for a park space. This should be addressed and no longer ignored. 78. I’ve heard there will be 1,700 new units built between Jackrabbit and Bollinger. Belgrade does not offer the infrastructure for this kind of grow th. Belgrade should seriously look at getting a new off/on ramp across from Bollenger if that new school is going in down there. Traff ic already gets backed up well past 13th St. during rush hour traff ic or when there’s a train. Sometimes it takes 1/2 an hour to get from my house to the interstate when this is only a 6 minute drive. When people drop their kids off at school they can just access the interstate to get to work from there if they work out of town. This will prevent fur ther back up for people tr ying to get out of there. I also think Belgrade should look at more affordable housing. Single parents can’t sur vive with the cost of rent around Belgrade. I know there is the farmhouse apar tments as I have a sister with a disabled daughter that lives there, however, these are apar tments are not well-maintained and the walls are paper thin. I’m tired of seeing single parents that I know getting pushed out of Belgrade and having to uproot their children because they can’t afford to live here anymore. 79. Need STREET MAINTENANCE!! Quit annexing land without infrastructure!!!! 80. The Belgrade Aquatic Center is a must have. 81. I wish that Belgrade had more shopping options 82. Better side walks and trail system would be a huge help. Even an alternative walking route over the interstate ,down jackrabbit, and especially down frontage road in both directions 83. Any thing will be an improvemenr 84. Movie theater, another grocer y store would be nice too. 85. Belgrade has a large population of school age children that need a place to play. Trails for families and older citizens could run through athletic f ields. 86. Safer bike riding areas. Any other thoughts on grow th or parks and recreation facilities? Continued ---PAGE BREAK--- 075 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 075 87. Having trails and walkways from surroundings neighborhoods to Downtown Belgrade would be nice 88. Too many new subdivisions going in that are causing problems to an already stressed infrastructure. 89. Dog friendly, more community enter tainment (Not just family entertainment). Less Police involvement (Their aggression has truly ruined the downtown area). 90. I would love to see more bike paths leading to parks and downtown. I live off of Amersterdam and f ind that road to be way too scar y to ride my bike on. If a path was available I would ride downtown way more often. 91. We need safe commuter/recreation routes that are separated from the roads, par ticularly, a safe way for people to get from the developments that are South of the freeway to the school zones and parks. We also need a new freeway exit around the Thorpe/ I-90/Frontage road intersections. 92. An indoor or outdoor swim pool would be great. Even little Townsend has one. I know that’s probably a pipe dream. I hope Belgrade is ver y cautious about the Street light issue. Increasing lightening is expensive, causes light pollution and has not been shown to prevent crime. It might prevent falls. Many towns are joining the Dark skies initiative. 93. It would be nice to have some sor t of rec center with a gym as well! Somewhere that is affordable for families, teens, elderly etc... and the entire family can par ticipate at once. 94. More native and drought tolerant plants and less Kentucky bluegrass please! 95. Safe bicycle paths from River Rock / Landmark subdivision to the High School. 96. Consider adding bird-friendly/native plantings to current or new parks. They will provide much-needed habitat for our feathered friends. 97. Needs to be well lit. 911 emergency land line. Bathroom for our little kids and trees. 98. Need to have more/improve on the trail system in Belgrade much like what Bozeman has been doing. 99. Gallatin Valley Land Trust should maybe check their NAME - they only fund trail projects in Bozeman, and not the entire Gallatin Valley! I don’t want Belgrade to be like Bozangeles, which I can’t stand, too yuppy, too crowded, etc...but it would sure be nice to have some kind of trail system with a few f ishing ponds, picnic areas, etc. And don’t forget to make it handicapped accessible too. 100. Would love to see more parks or areas where kids can play spor ts. And run around and have fun. Something like the skate park, only for volleyball/softball 101. Let’s keep the small town feel, make Belgrade a cute town. 102. Not sure parks need much, we just need better pedestrian and bike options. i.e. better(or any) sidewalks and trails. 103. A walking path on the railroad proper ty along Northern Pacif ic Ave connecting Belgrade to the new gravel pit development and surrounding neighborhoods would be great. 104. I think ‘urban’ bike trails and trails connecting communities are the top priority. But wouldn’t it be great if I could get to trailheads on my bike, too? If we had non-driving trail access, Missoula would have nothing on us! 105. A pool and aquatic center would be great, indoor and outdoor use, great and affordable for all ages and all families!!!! 106. Provide safe bike routes to recreation, more trails similar to Bozeman 107. Belgrade is severely lacking in trails to walk on. 108. We love the Belgrade splash park. Even Bozeman doesn’t have one. Three Forks puts Belgrade and Bozeman to shame with their paved bike path system. Belgrade and Bozeman need a connecting paved bike path and in and around Belgrade. Many Belgrade streets don’t even have a sidewalk let along a bike path. 109. More shelters to picnic. 110. I would personally love to see a great dog park here in Belgrade. My dog loves running around and meeting new friends and driving in to Bozeman can be a pain. 111. Impor tant to maintain green spaces/open multi-use areas rather than have them f illed up with commercial enterprises. 112. Outdoor and indoor Swimming pool!!!! 113. I’ve been surprised at how infrequently it seems that private par ties invest in the grow th of the community. The Alber tsons, Simplots, and Morrisons have donated so much into the grow th of Boise and Meridian over the years, and have put a lot of focus on the ar ts and family. Bozeman and Belgrade have families with funds as well, and I just wonder if those resources aren’t being utilized. Obviously tax incentives would be available to those families 114. BELGR ADE NEEDS A SWIMMING 115. Food trucks lunch on the lawn kids activities 116. Replacing old and broken equipment 117. It would be nice to have a place to take my dog in town. Before I had my own yard, I def initely wanted a community garden. 118. Upgrade bathrooms at public parks, build a stage at Lewis and Clark park 119. More benches and we really need better trails connecting areas of Belgrade. 120. I would like to see a community center that can be used during the cold months. Rec spor ts could be offered or open gyms. 121. We need to improve the roads and develop traff ic patterns which will accommodate for future grow th in and around the Belgrade area. This should be the priority, not an expanded park system. 122. We need trails, trails and more trails. 123. sidewalks in all subdivisions 124. Out of town users dont pay 125. Belgrade infrastructure in general is extremely poor and never seems to improve. Speed limits on Amsterdam Road and Jackrabbit lane are too high. More lanes are needed on these roads. A turn lane into the Town Pump truck stop on Amsterdam Road is necessar y. Also, paving the rest of Hub Road. My concern is far more focused on the poor roadways than the parks and recreation of Belgrade. 126. Our family has to go outside of Belgrade to ride our bikes, unless we want to use the sidewalks, as I mentioned in the last question. It would be so awesome to have a bike trail system that led you to different parks throughout Belgrade, so you could get out and ride bikes as a family. A YMCA or similar facility would be amazing and rec classes for preschool aged kids- like intro to different spor ts or other classes that are offered in Bozeman but not Belgrade. 127. Belgrade needs to deal with there traff ic issues before they worr y about there parks. Any other thoughts on grow th or parks and recreation facilities? Continued ---PAGE BREAK--- 076 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 076 128. Need to think about long term tax base. More single family homes (affordable, not just low income), sidewalks/trails, athletic center (similar to the ridge or YMCA), less chain restaurants, better traff ic f low. People need another reason to come here other than ‘ it’s all I can afford We truly do need more amenities. 129. As ugly as it sounds the towns grow th should be focused on young families buying homes not developers building hovels. Belgrade needs to build a tax base as well as a community instead of being the “it’s all I can afford location” it’s becoming. 130. Community pond, similar to the river rock pond 131. A trail system to walk and bike on. To more easily get around town. And an area to gather for music in summer months. 132. Cross countr y skiing 133. A better farmers market! More vendors! 134. Bozeman seems to have at least a small public green space (“park”) for ever y few blocks of new development. It would be awesome to see Belgrade follow suit and have required parks for new developments. That way my dog doesn’t have to pee on the neighbor’s beautiful f lowers that wilt any time a dog walks near them (their words). And my kids have places to run around that I don’t have to drive 20 minutes for. 135. summer car shows, ar t walks, scarecrow competition, summerfest (bands, food), beer/ wine fest. 136. Running trails, fat 137. Music, farmers markets, ar t markets Any other thoughts on grow th or parks and recreation facilities? Continued ---PAGE BREAK--- 077 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 077 APPENDIX B: FOCUS GROUP NOTE S Individual conversations were had with spor ts clubs, local non-prof its, and other community organizations. Main topics of conversation are listed here. ---PAGE BREAK--- 078 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 078 March 5, 2019, 9am Gallatin Valley Lacrosse - Lorelyn Mayr • Lacrosse is not just Bozeman, but in Manhattan, Three Forks, Belgrade, Livingston • Always looking ever y where for f ield options, including f ield space in Belgrade • Really hard to get f ield space in Bozeman, it’s booked or expensive • This is the only lacrosse in the valley • Belgrade Special Events Center is an ideal place for tr youts - there is a track up above gym to watch • Club team - hard to get f ield space for boys lacrosse • New Spor ts complex in Bozeman is getting booked already and is competitive to book space • Bozeman lacrosse is petitioning the school district to use the new f ields at new high school March 5, 2019, 4pm Belgrade Youth Baseball- Jeremy Olson • It’s a growing program • Use parks in Belgrade often • Use park near American Legion Park • Use middle school f ields • Field space is at a premium - need more f ield space • Would like to use the Belgrade Youth Spor ts Complex • School and City own the park - future playing space • More need for 60 -70’ f ields • Need full size f ield • Responsible for putting own dugouts in the f ields, including por ta potties • They do not pay fees to rent the f ield - they manage and pay for garbage pick up and toilets on their own • Running tournaments/leagues - nice that f ields are close together March 11, 2019 Belgrade High School - Activities - Paul Lamb • The school uses the Belgrade Youth Spor ts Complex. A teacher might jog through a public park for scener y. The school uses the tennis cour ts and soccer f ields at the complex. The school is self suff icient for the most par t • Gym space is at a premium • Do you see a lot of use of your outdoor f ields by the public? Yes and no - in the warm weather we get people walking on track, at night after practices. • During summer, kids play soccer/baseball on the f ields, and you see dog walkers • Do you charge a rental fee for organized events? The school does rent f ields to the softball association and little league -they put money into upkeep on the f ields • Do you see a lot of public interest in your indoor facility - is it underused, overused? It is used from sun up to sun down ever y day of the week - club volleyball, club basketball, lacrosse, softball, city league basketball games • An auxiliar y gym opens Aug 15, at the high school, and expect it to f ill up immediately • The special event center is the biggest and nicest indoor space. • Middle school has two gyms, and each elementar y has one gym • Do you collaborate with any organizations in town to provide f ield space for events? YMCA rents space, United Way par tners for after school at 3 elementar y school, and there are other par tners are using their gym space March 12, 2019, 4pm Gallatin Valley AYSO Soccer Region 536 - Jason Kovnesky • There are spring and fall leagues • Play all over the valley, and practice in Belgrade • Spring league games are at Belgrade Youth Spor ts Complex • Teams practice at Lions Park • They are looking for long term f ields to play on • April - June there are 300 kids, and September - October there are 700 kids ---PAGE BREAK--- 079 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 079 • In the spring, they use 6 f ields (30’x60’) and 2 f ields (60’x90’) • AYSO pays the school to use the Belgrade Youth Spor ts Complex, including fees to clean the bathrooms • At the Adam Bronken Memorial Spor ts Complex, AYSO is charged $18,000 for full day use of one f ield, for 8 weeks. $2,250 for one full day use of one f ield • ASYO pays $1000 per season in Belgrade • AYSO lines their own f ields, and can store items at the school if needed • Would like more suppor t from the City of Belgrade • Looking for space to practice 1 or 2 times a week, and one dedicated f ield for games • There is grow th in soccer participation in Belgrade, and all spring games are in Belgrade • Would prefer to have one location for soccer games and tournaments - ver y diff icult to line and manage f ields in Three Forks, Manhattan, Belgrade, and Bozeman • There are so many entities competing for space - there needs to be some coordinated effort as people are territorial about using f ields • There is a lot of collaborative strength - the volunteer base overlaps between spor ts • There is congested traff ic at Medina Field and the Softball complex at Spooner Road • School f ields are better taken care of than the city f ields March 12, 2019 Belgrade Parks Board • Inquire if the school bond projects identif y ball f ields • Is there an oppor tunity for PPP? • School ballf ields are well taken care of • City f ields are not well taken care of (staff ing) • Bohlinger and Cruiser streets are going to be heavily impacted by the new school traff ic • School is proposed to open 2020 • Look at trends in Montana for park use / activities • Make sure we are incorporating public comments into the plan • City boards/staff would like comment cards that include sur vey site and ways to comment • Contact Senior Center regarding GP & MP • Bing maps and Google maps are not accurate with park locations • Roads or sidewalks to nowhere – need to be connected • Identif y weak spots in subdivision regulations related to connectivity (sidewalk and trails) • Familiarize ourselves with the new development going on around Prescott Park • Would like to incorporate or identif y locations for new playground equipment • Look for new ball space areas/land acquisition March 13, 2019 Belgrade Community Coalition (BCC) • Non prof it volunteer board, not membership based, 7 on board • Aim for stronger sense of community in Belgrade • Met with strategic planner a few years ago – biggest need is connectivity, with trails, or person to person with events or getting to know neighbors • 150 -200 volunteers • Funded by grants, donations, sponsorships • Not a lot of outside enter tainment in Belgrade • When you live in Belgrade it is tough to meet people, unless you have kids, but not much to do if you are young • Par tner with a lot of different groups, or groups f ind them • Well respected by city council / assume some of role from chamber • Seen as next generation of leadership for Belgrade • Help with Festival of Lights and Farmer’s Market • Want to help with trails ---PAGE BREAK--- 080 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 080 • Skate Park - main focus was to f ind activities for kids. Mountain Sky Guest Ranch grant received for Skate Park required matching grant. Took a number of years to get all funding. Gallatin Valley Skate Society. Required more community suppor t and involvement. So Tiffany stresses involvement. • Need community driven projects - diverse people from different organizations • Would like to connect River Rock and Belgrade City Proper. River Rock pond / travel not safe. Need separated path. Informal conversations with GVLT. Have not had conversations with River Rock. Connecting Belgrade to Manhattan and Belgrade to Bozeman. Group is raising money specif ically for Belgrade to Bozeman. • Give big fund raising blew record for fundraising. Trails focus raised funds best year ever. Contributing toward planning effor t. Community giving seems to be high for trails. Businesses have money and don’t get approached by Belgrade often so asking for money easier than Bozeman. Construction companies donation. Time, material, labor, cash. $160K Skate Park. • Trident out in 3 Forks would like to help in Belgrade • If f inancial giving isn’t possible, manpower is available • Focus on connecting projects • There are a lot of families moving here, 9,000 city 21,000 school district • 501 c3 Non prof it can apply for a lot more than the city – co align and focus on projects. • As BCC identif ies projects, they meet with Jason Karp • Long time ranchers are concerned about grow th • Belgrade used to be the place for affordable housing • School board information for the bond was ver y successful. Much better prepared. • Trails would be a big draw more than parks • GVLT looking for their next project. Bridget is ED for Bozeman Area Community Foundation. • May be a cultural issue and need par tnering to get into the community in the past • Big connectivity gaps include between Airpor t and Ryan Glen Development along Dr y Creek. Penwell Bridge Road • Gaps include along Amsterdam Road from Jackrabbit past River Rock to the Gallatin River f ishing access • Snow maintenance on the trail Jackrabbit to Valley Center • Need to connect subdivisions that are already built through trails • Landmark & Cobblestone have great trail systems • Signage of existing trails • Connectivity to the sidewalk system E. Belgrade Interchange needs to be identif ied. Been working on this for 4 years with no resolution. This is not in the City limits. • Examples include Lewistown signage for parks / trails, Polson/Ronan/Arlee, Bozeman, Victoria British Columbia • Paint the picture – visuals and how that is going to connect and what they are going to look like for safety and recreation • More restaurants would help the community. Liquor license is a major detriment to additional grow th. • HRDC/Streamline: Relationship is established. Need bus that goes to the airpor t. Funding may help promote getting them to add another line. Can’t charge because if they do they lose some of their grant money. March 28th – transpor tation meeting – Streamline will be talking. • Need to connect airpor t to the City, which is a public safety issue • Would like to work with Gallatin County - just haven’t had the opportunity to work with the County on sidewalks/trails connectivity. March 14, 2019, 10am Bozeman International Airpor t, Brian Sprenger • 1,000 FTE employees • No additional land acquisition planned • Less concerned with commercial development than residential • Watch for height restrictions - has traded land at end of runways for clearance • There are navigation easements, height restrictions ---PAGE BREAK--- 081 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 081 • Boundar y of airpor t mostly will not change, but will see extension of runways, but no new runways • Boise airpor t is a good comparison • There are conf licts with the existing treatment plant (wastewater) • Not going to interfere with private development at this time • Airpor t and City share water rights • Airpor t is responsible for all airpor t infrastructure • Fully connected to city water and sewer infrastructure • High school and airpor t are biggest water users • Streamline stop is desired but there are not enough routes/demand. Need these at all times of the day particularly early in the morning and late at night. Before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. • Parking garage will be 90% car rentals and 10% private rental • 2009 -2018 doubled use • First two months of 2019 are up 21% • Expecting 1.5 million passengers in 2019, 27% of airpor t passengers is pure tourism • Local traff ic is 39% of overall airpor t use • Data sharing between airpor t and City would be helpful in collaboration • There is an aviation easement is on the Spor ts Complex • Spor ts complex will need to be sensitive to lighting • DRNC owns proper ty Spor ts Complex • City and School have a junior easement on the Spor ts Complex, airpor t has a senior easement. There’s an agreement between city and school – school operates facilities there, shapes construction, help maintain undeveloped areas. Any development requires approval from School, DNRC, Airpor t, City • Can’t par ticipate in funding outside of Airpor t proper ty • Airpor t can place millings as beginnings of a trail to help connect areas • Construction staging – construction paving or abandoned roads could overlap with planned trails • Airpor t is open to trading land March 14, 2019 River Rock HOA • 1,214 proper ty owners • Commercial areas are available for mixed use development • 2010 -2011 CIP needs to be updated • Issues with maintenance / storm / f ire hydrants / roads • The HOA subcontracts some maintenance • Would be open to parks district • River Rock water and sewer district is separate entity and not associated with River Rock HOA • Water and sewer district recently upgraded and has capacity • River Rock does not pay for irrigation water (looking to drill wells) for parks or common open space • Streets and sidewalks biggest concern • Parks need more parking • Public parks • Wild Horse Trail area is a shared area • Streamline use would be great – people walk to Flying J Truck Stop • Fish pond is full of coy. Fish & Wildlife would stock if coy were removed • Dues are $426 / year • Look into annexation and incorporation MCA laws (distance from existing cities) • Would entertain an Inter-local Agreement with the City for some ser vices • Some parks in River Rock are not named • Would like to complete walking loop in Nor th Park March 14, 2019 Belgrade Chamber of Commerce • Belgrade is NOT Bozeman, the small town feel is impor tant • School District is important ---PAGE BREAK--- 082 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 082 • Biggest softball tournaments in the State • Large volunteer base in the community • There are business challenges like lack of affordable space, and high rent • Downtown is not overly def ined • Parking accessibility - need better parking, and they are tr ying to get business owners to not park in front of their stores so visitors can park there • Would suppor t safe downtown mixed use • Affordable Housing is less than $1500 month • Habitat for humanity has a growing wait list. Growing faster than any where in the county, and can’t f ind affordable land. There is the most need in Belgrade • There are new habitat homes going in new the Sky Scope area (Idaho St.) by westbound ramp • Singles and families need housing • There is no recreation or tourism that brings people to Belgrade other than rec spor ts • Need hotels and restaurants for spor ts, most tourism is for youth spor ts • Would like to see a Spor ts Complex • Dog park • Belgrade Garden Club installing pollinator garden is going in Lewis and Clark park by Davis Street • Community beautif ication is important • Would like walkability, bikability, trees, bike lanes, consistent street lighting • Histor y of Belgrade is impor tant • Would like to see more signage, gateway signage • Water Park is popular • More retail is desired, need to incentivize businesses • Railroad tracks hinder technology grow th, utilities, safety, traff ic • Need a turn signal and turn lane at Madison and Jackrabbit, Main and Jackrabbit • School on Bohlinger is going to add to congested traff ic • Would like an additional exit between Belgrade and Manhattan • Would like parks with combined spor ts, for example, overlap soccer f ields and softball f ields • Would like f ields with lighting for evening play March 14, 2019 Gallatin County Conser vation and Parks - Michael Harris • The 2010 Gallatin County park document was never adopted. Was too regulator y to be adopted. Need to update County parks and trails plan. • Big Sky has updated theirs • Gallatin County would update for construction and maintenance. • There is an abandoned rail line outside of Belgrade March 15, 2019 Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) • Historically does Bozeman work, has par tnered with Bozeman on trails • Works with DNRC and USFW • Maintenance agreements with Bozeman, DNRC, USFW • Have 1.5 FTE for trails • Sit on a number of advisor y boards including the Belgrade to Bozeman Board with Jason Karp • Without a Parks Plan feel like they cannot assist Belgrade without their voice - need an idea of where the community wants to go with trails • Will provide suppor t via advisor y position for exper tise on trail design, suppor t letters, grant applications, etc. • Frontage Road is a desired trail corridor • Alaska Road may be a good option for a trail • County never adopted the Park/Trail plan • MPO may form at next census • Linear park concept will help connect communities faster, linear parks are encouraged versus postage-stamp shaped parks ---PAGE BREAK--- 083 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 083 • Valley West and Oak Meadow have linear parks • Adopt a regional trail plan • Bozeman is working on a Parks District • Great American Trail Organization DC to WA is approximately 50% done, their long term desire to use abandoned rail line • Need a regional parks/trails plan - is Main Street to Main Street a desire? • MSU Student intern program may help Belgrade with GIS project • City of Bozeman uses City Works software. Belgrade should use the same so the platforms communicate • Could talk to County Health Depar tment for information on walkability campaign, educational data, signage campaigns, etc • Park district could fund new improvements, not just maintenance • 160 acre conser vations areas are desired • MPO could help pay for GIS software and compatibility • Headwaters Economics has trail research information April 12, 2019 11:15pm Belgrade Community Market - Christine Stoppa • Market is 40 booths, less than 50 booths, don’t want to get large. Vision is to be primarily a Farmers market, not craft market, and the goal is to get to half produce and half craft • Would like a visitor to be able to grab food and groceries without going overboard on food trucks. Food trucks require a permit • Use only 2 streets along the park. with 2 food trucks. Would like to prevent congestion and take up good parking spaces • Another issue is the restrooms. There are no doors on the stalls. We put our own hand sanitizer in • Space for outdoor music venue. Electricity is not convenient. Need set spot for electricity. Storage issue - no place to store items. Shelter was built for a food vendor. City doesn’t want it for storage, but they want it for food. Dragging tables ever y week. More parking. People are running across Davis - people shooting in front of cars • Old f ire station could be an ideal community space for the market on rainy days • Have to be careful of the underground sprinklers when carr ying things and parking. Parking spots that back-in would be ideal • Health Coalition working on walkability - already working with Chris Coburn. Pilot program with token. $2 in produce • One purpose is to have a place for people to meet ---PAGE BREAK--- 084 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 084 APPENDIX C: MAY 2019 PUBLIC SURVEY RE SULTS A second public sur vey was available May 21, 2019 though May 31, 2019. The purpose of the sur vey was to conf irm public opinion on parks and recreation programming, a parks district, and a parks depar tment. ---PAGE BREAK--- 085 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 085 Multiple Choice Questions Respondents Response Percent 1) A swimming pool, trails, enter tainment/music venue, and youth/family activities were some of the most requested recreational items in the public sur vey. Please rank these recreational items and press submit. a. Trails! 150 3rd b. Youth/family activities! 150 1st c. Enter tainment! 150 4th d. An outdoor pool! 150 2nd 2) Lack of connectivity and inadequate f ield space were the most mentioned issues by community members in the focus groups. Do you agree that these items are the biggest problems related to parks and recreation? a. Just lack of connectivity 40 20.62% b. Just inadequate f ield space 9 4.64% c. ALL of the above 123 63.40% d. NONE of the above 22 11.34% 3) Many respondents in the public sur vey indicated a need for some form of improvement to Belgrade parks and recreation. Do you agree that parks and recreation needs improvement? a. Our parks need improvement 26 13.07% b. Leave the parks alone, create new trails 19 9.55% c. Improve parks AND create new trails 111 55.78% d. Forget parks and trails, f ix the roads f irst 43 21.61% 4) A Park District is a type of Special Improvement District (SID) where a group of proper ty owners make payments towards public improvements. A Park District in the Belgrade area could match the school district boundar y, capturing payments from those who are most likely to use park facilities in town. Do you agree that this is an appropriate boundar y for a Parks District? a. Yes! That’s perfect 130 67.36% b. No, I don’t want a Parks District 20 10.36% c. Um, we need a larger footprint 25 12.95% d. That’s too big, we need a smaller footprint 18 9.33% Respondents Response Percent 5) The City of Belgrade has no parks depar tment, but parks are managed by Public Works. Would you be in favor of a parks depar tment forming, including additional staff funded by Belgrade taxes or a parks district? a. Def initley yes - why don’t we have a parks depar tment now? 84 42.42% b. Yes 71 35.86% c. No 33 16.67% d. No way - things are f ine the way they are 10 5.05% ---PAGE BREAK--- 086 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 086 Open-ended Questions Any other thoughts? Answers relating to parks, recreation, and trails. 1. Thank you for doing this. First, we already invest in some of these so my answers ref lect my opinions of what’s needed most. We have tight city limits. We have to be mindful of what the City of Belgrade can promise and deliver. Grow th is inevitable. Public safety is f irst kids travelling safe routes to schools, residents being encouraged to get around without vehicles. I think Belgrade is worried about lack of parking because we haven’t made it an ethic to walk and bike within the city limits. Perhaps education on when, where and at what times of year might be helpful and appropriate. 2. Thanks for the oppor tunity to voice our opinion. And thanks for all you do. 3. I think it’s great we have a skate park but at Lewis and Clark park but we need to have rules and someone enforcing them. Not all the people but most that use skate park are ver y obnoxious and behave inappropriately for other kids that are in area. 4. Lewis and Clark park ( the splash & skate area) is an impor tant hub for kids of all ages. However, the bathroom feels ver y unsafe. It would be wonderful if they were improved. 5. The City and School district need to work together as a common group. Belgrade lacks identity as a community due to the City limits. The city has an obligation to its taxpayers but these discussions don’t need to be f ixated on tax districts in the best interest of all taxpayers. I think the school district boundar y is a well described group for the parks 6. Loooove what this group is tr ying to accomplish!!!! So much respect and suppor 7. Thanks for your work on this! I would encourage the City to continue to communicate with the community so we continue to feel a par t of the process and invested in the outcome. This would help a lot if/when a Parks District was adopted. 8. Belgrade is growing rapidly. Kids are bored. Build a pool, put in a movie theatre or bowling. Lets keep the kids in Belgrade for their fun. No need to drive to Bozeangeles!! 9. Need a bike/walking path/trail from the River Rock/Cobblestone/Landmark Subdivisions into the City of Belgrade. There has been a signif icant effor t to build these paths/trails between Bozeman and Belgrade, but the outlying communities of Belgrade should be connected to the City of Belgrade FIRST! Amsterdam is a ver y congested road and dangerous to travel on by foot or bike. 10. Traff ic f low, especially around the schools, is a problem. We need more sidewalks. 11. Would be great to have a trail system! Improve existing commercial/ residential areas. 12. The focus on Belgrade Parks and Trails is fantastic. This combined with the recent announcement of the Rails to Trails path through the area, and the Bozeman Main Street to Mountains system will be GREAT! With Three Forks and Copper City already ahead of the game - our area is going to be a recreation HUB - Not to mention all the economic benef its that will come along with it!! Keep up the good work - and think PARTNERSHIPS!! 13. Thanks for tr ying to build a better Belgreat!!! 14. Thank you! Improving our town increases its “livability” 15. More/updated equipment in existing parks 16. Better roads, affordable housing, parks and trails 17. Parks and trails make a city desirable, bringing people and then businesses follow the consumers, bringing money to the community. 18. We need city programs!! Little leagues, community education programs, etc. 19. Gallatin already has a lot of public area and have numerous trails & recreational areas, we do not need to spend money on these like Bozeman did. Focus on improving Education and suppor ting Small business who suppor t the community & improving without wasteful spending. 20. I would love to see a bike lane along dr y creek road into Belgrade 21. Since we live in Montana we need more than just an outdoor pool. We need a full aquatic facility that includes an outdoor pool along with the indoor pool. 22. These are tough issues for sure. Although I’d really like to see more recreational oppor tunities in Belgrade I think infrastructure to reduce high traff ic areas and improve Belgrades economy are possibly higher priorities, but will need to be addressed in time. 23. Trails would be great. 24. Thank you! This has been a great process. Ver y insightful! 25. The current park equipment is outdated and needs to be replaced before new parks are built. 26. Thank you for including residents in these conversations! We all benef it when ever yone works together. 27. Maintain the sidewalks better 28. I appreciate that the time is being taken to work through this and offer the public a chance to give opinions. Belgrade grow th is a good thing but it needs to happen correctly and carefully while also suppor ting current residents. I will say safety, education, and availability of resources for our youth is my primar y concern in Belgrade right now. 29. A pool would be so awesome for Belgrade, but it needs to be indoor/ outdoor because we have so much winter. 30. Invest in making Belgrade a stand-out community with excellent livability because of a healthy business sector, good schools, recreation & transpor tation. It would be nice to shed the reputation of a being a lower cost doormat to Bozeman. 31. Do not add in more taxes for something like this. It is already too expensive here and a ton of people, including my family are having to consider moving as we can barely afford the current taxes we are charged. 32. Thank you for your hard work. I went to the open house at the librar y last night. The print and maps were way too small. Our aging eyes need big, colorful, easy to read graphs, pictures, maps. Thank you again. 33. Connectivity to parks is vital and then having some core larger parks that are developed with more activities and amenities for kids and adults to share he space. 34. As a Belgrade family who does not live in city limits, a parks and recreation district is CRITICAL to attracting and keeping families in Belgrade. PLEASE work with the committee to get a pool built. Give or lease land to let that happen. Let’s suppor t all of the people who would use those facilities. Also, Belgrade needs more businesses. The city should be attracting more industries, ser vice businesses, technology, activity based businesses, tourism based businesses. We are missing out on HUGE tax revenue due to our lack of businesses. 35. would love to see a big/wide bike/pedestrian trail connecting Belgrade to Bozeman. Wide enough to accommodate multiple uses, with shaded rest stops along the way for children and seniors. Drinking fountains and restrooms would be a PLUS+++ 36. Bring a MSU or other community college campus to Belgrade ---PAGE BREAK--- 087 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 087 APPENDIX D: T YPICAL DETAILS The following details are general and not site specif ic. An engineer or landscape architect is recommended to review and customize the details for projects. ---PAGE BREAK--- 088 City of Belgrade I Montana Parks & Recreation Master Plan I 2019 088 Typical Trail Section