Document Butte_doc_4bedcedce1

BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARKS, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN PARK AND FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT Prepared by: MIG, Inc. Portland, OR www.migcom.com JULY 2008 ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- TABLE OF CONTENTS PLANNING COMMUNITY PARK LAND RECREATION FACILITIES AQUATIC APPENDIX A: PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES INVENTORY ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 INTRODUCTION The City-County of Butte-Silver Bow provides a variety of facilities and parks, including skating rinks, golf courses, sports fields and playgrounds. The goal of the Parks Department is to provide maximum recreation opportunities with existing resources. Butte- Silver Bow now owns 39 parks and facilities totaling 357 acres. The Park and Facilities Analysis Report is designed to document the current state of the Butte-Silver Bow park and recreation system. As such, it serves as a critical component of the Butte-Silver Bow Comprehensive Parks, Trails and Open Space Master Plan. The report: • Defines the Butte Silver-Bow planning area; • Describes the existing geographic, social, and economic context within it; • Identifies existing park and recreation resources, both public and private; and • Calculates the current level of service provided by parks and recreation facilities, where appropriate. PLANNING AREA The Comprehensive Park Trails and Open Space Plan addresses park and facility needs in all of Silver Bow County in southwestern Montana. The consolidated City-County government and concentration of the county’s population within the City of Butte will result in special emphasis on this largest city within the County. Silver Bow County is 719 square miles of primarily mountainous, high altitude terrain. COMMUNITY PROFILE The historic head frames that dot Butte’s landscape reveal the town’s history as the nation’s premier copper mining town. The area was first settled in 1864 when miners were attracted to Silver Bow Creek. While it was gold that first brought the miners, it was the discovery of copper that put Butte on the map. Butte, with the richest copper deposit in the nation, had over 200 mines in the area. When mining technology shifted to open pit mining, Berkeley Pit opened in 1955. As the three-mile-wide pit expanded, many existing neighborhoods were demolished. When the pit closed in 1982, naturally-flowing highly acidic mine water began to fill the 1,800 foot deep pit. PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT PAGE 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 The planning area lies within the 474 square mile Silver Bow Creek watershed. Decades of mining have resulted in extensive degradation, and portions of the watershed have been designated as federal Superfund sites. In a 1999 settlement with ARCO, the state received $130 million in natural resource funds to restore or replace damaged resources. The Silver Bow Creek Watershed Restoration Plan (2005), which lays out funding priorities for the settlement money, includes several park and recreation projects. Butte area residents have not had access to a variety of recreational features as a result of mining activities and contamination. For this reason, the restoration plan recommends development of recreational facilities such as parks, open space, swimming areas, fishing areas, and trails. Butte is surrounded by four million acres of public lands, including the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and various sites owned by the Bureau of Land Management and the State of Montana. The Continental Divide runs through Silver Bow County, looping around Butte. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and Nez Perce Historic Trail traverse the forest and provide excellent hiking opportunities. Forest lands also include trails for equestrian, all- terrain vehicle and mountain bike use. Rock climbers are drawn to the granite outcrops found in the Humbug Spires Wilderness Study Area south of Butte. The Big Hole River, thirty minutes away, is noted for its natural diversity. The river supports rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout and also offers great floating and kayaking experiences. Other streams found in the Butte area include the Beaverhead, Ruby, Madison, Jefferson, and Rock Creeks. In the winter the area offers snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, as well as downhill skiing at Discovery Basin near Anaconda, and Maverick Mountain near Dillon. Several major transportation corridors intersect in Butte. Butte lies at the intersection of Interstates 15 and 90, the state’s two interstate highways. The area also hosts a rail interline with the Burlington Northern and Union Pacific Railroads. The largest employers in the County are the local, State and Federal governments, together providing 17% of all jobs. The largest private employers in the area include St. James Health Care, Northwestern Energy, Wal-Mart, Town Pump, and Montana Resources. PAGE 2 PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS Understanding the demographics of the Butte-Silver Bow planning area is critical for determining needs for parks and recreation services. Factors such as age and ethnicity influence community preferences for recreation activities. Population growth and distribution is also an important factor in the demand for parks and recreation opportunities. Census data was used to produce a demographic summary of Butte-Silver Bow. Since the US Census does not separate the City of Butte from Silver Bow County, the number reported here are for Silver Bow County. Demographic information was also pulled from the 2005 Butte-Silver Bow Transportation Plan Update. POPULATION According to Census data, the population of Silver Bow County in 2000 was 34,606. Approximately 88 percent (30,453) of Silver Bow’s population resided within the Butte urban limits. The population of the County increased two percent (665 people) between 1990 and 2000. During the 2005 Butte-Silver Bow Transportation Plan Update, population growth was projected to 2025. The moderate growth scenario projected 36,801 residents of the county by 2025 representing a growth rate of 6.3 percent. Extending this projection to a 20-year planning horizon ending in 2028 would result in a population of approximately 37,078. Because of the inter-jurisdictional boundaries for the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow it is difficult to extract data from the U.S. Census. However, it appears that the area with largest amount of growth (62 percent) is outside of the Butte urban core. This does include some areas within, but at the edges of, the city limits. AGE The age distribution in Silver-Bow County has shifted between 1990 and 2000, as shown in Figure 1 on the next page. The number of children under five decreased by 13 percent. At the same time, the number of residents age 25-34 declined 22 percent. The two shifts may reflect a decrease in residents of child-bearing age and their children. The largest age groups are between the ages of 35-54, representing 30 percent of the population. The number of residents over 85 has increased 48 percent. An aging population is consistent with national trends and will affect the types of facilities and recreation programs needed in the planning area. Older adults and seniors are participating in recreation activities PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT PAGE 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 in much larger numbers than in previous generations. This can result in an increased need for different types of facilities to support this use. Figure 1 Butte-Silver Bow Population By Age 1990 & 2000 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 Under 5 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85 and Over Population 1990 2000 ETHNICITY Historically, Butte has a reputation as a diverse mining town. During the high tide of mass immigration, the town had more foreign-born residents then many European cities. By 1910, immigrants came from over two dozen nations, including people from Ireland, England, and Finland. Recent census data mask this type of diversity in the collection of all Caucasians into one population, representing 93% of the County in 2000. Ethnic groups that have increased their presence between the 1990 and 2000 Censuses include African Americans and American Indians. PAGE 4 PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 PARK LAND The City-County of Butte-Silver Bow provides a variety of park land inside the county limits. These sites are designed, owned, and maintained by the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow, and range from sports parks to natural areas. Over the years Butte-Silver Bow has acquired parks through a variety of methods, including subdivision dedication, donation, and tax deed sale. Altogether, the City- County’s park sites total 356.6 acres of developed and undeveloped park land that provide both active and passive recreation opportunities for residents of Butte-Silver Bow and the surrounding areas. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM To assist in planning for the future of Butte-Silver Bow, parks have been divided into six classifications. These park classifications recognize that parks are used in a variety of ways and serve different purposes within the system. The proposed classifications can facilitate future planning, reduce conflicts between user groups, and help define appropriate maintenance levels. The six proposed park types include: MINI PARKS Mini parks are typically located on small lots up to three acres in size. These parks are designed to serve residents within a ¼-mile walking radius, or in the immediately adjacent neighborhoods. Mini parks provide basic neighborhood recreation amenities, like playgrounds, benches, and landscaping. Typical mini parks are up to approximately ½ acre in size but are distinguished primarily by the minimal basic facilities provided within them. NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS Neighborhood parks are located within walking and bicycling distance of most users. These parks are generally three to five acres in size and serve residents within a ½-mile radius. Neighborhood parks provide access to basic recreation opportunities for nearby residents, enhance neighborhood identity, and preserve neighborhood open space. Neighborhood parks often include amenities such as playgrounds, basketball courts, turf areas, picnic tables, and benches. COMMUNITY PARKS Community parks are planned to provide opportunities for both structured, active and passive, informal recreation. Community parks generally include facilities that attract people from the entire community, such as pools, lighted fields, and recreation centers. As PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT PAGE 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 destinations, these sites require support facilities, such as parking and restrooms. These parks may also include significant natural areas and trails. The minimum size of community parks is generally 15 to 20 acres. Community parks with large facilities, such as golf courses, or extensive natural areas may be considerably larger. SPECIAL USE AREAS Special use areas are freestanding specialized use facilities such as community centers, aquatic centers, sports complexes, boat ramps, historic areas, or skate parks. Since special use areas vary widely in function, there are no minimum sizes, but special use areas must be large enough to accommodate the intended use. Support facilities such as parking and restrooms are often included. NATURAL AREAS/GREENWAYS Natural areas and greenways are permanent, undeveloped green spaces which are managed for both their natural value as well as for recreational use. Natural areas and greenways can be of any size, and may include wetlands, wildlife habitats, or stream corridors. Natural areas provide opportunities for nature-based recreation, such as bird- watching and environmental education. These parks may preserve or protect environmentally sensitive areas, such as unique and/or endangered plant species. Other types of natural areas provide for access and enjoyment of forest lands and other natural features. Greenways are often linear in nature, following natural or man-made corridors such as creeks and abandoned railways. UNDEVELOPED AREAS Undeveloped areas are public lands with no facilities or improvements. These sites are intended to be developed into a park in one of the above categories in the future. PAGE 6 PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 EXISTING PARKS At the present time, the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow owns and manages 685 acres of park land (Table The parks range in size from one-tenth of an acre to 309 acres. Butte-Silver Bow also co- owns and manages Thompson Park, a 3,800-acre forested park south of Butte. Additional acreage and recreational amenities, including land and buildings, are owned and maintained by Montana Tech, local School Districts, and others such as the YMCA. The acreage provided by others is not included in the level of service analysis, but provides important contextual information about the recreation opportunities in Butte-Silver Bow. A detailed park inventory is found in Appendix A. T A B L E 1 : E X I S T I N G P A R K L A N D E X I S T I N G L E V E L O F S E R V I C E A P A R K T Y P E E X I S T I N G P A R K S A C R E S (ACRES PER 1,000 PERSONS) Mini Parks 11 3.64 0.11 Neighborhood Parks 7 17.12 0.49 Community Parks 3 153.48 4.44 Special Use Areas 11 102.01 2.95 Natural Areas/Greenways 4 4167.42 120.42B Undeveloped Park Land N/A 47.86 1.38 Mine Sites and Superfund Property N/A 2196.39 63.47 T O T A L 35 6687.92 193.26 A Based on the 2000 population of the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow as reported by the U. S. Census Bureau. B The level of service without including Thompson Park is 10.44 Table 1 is a summary of existing park land by type within Butte-Silver Bow, showing both the number of sites and the total acreage in each proposed classification. The table also includes calculations of the level of park service provided by the City-County described in terms of acres per 1,000 population, based on the County population from the 2000 Census. PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT PAGE 7 ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 Map 1, showing the Butte area, and Map 2, illustrating the entire county, are included on the following pages. Both of these maps indicate existing park locations as well as other public lands. Each park is color-coded to the proposed classification. MINI PARKS Currently there are 11 mini parks totaling four acres in Butte Silver- Bow. Some sites contain a playground and/or basketball court. The mini parks provide an existing level of service of 0.11 acres/1,000 persons. Most of the mini parks are clustered in the Uptown area. In addition to the parks managed by Butte-Silver Bow, there are two other mini parks in the city limits: Walkerville Park and Williamsburg Park. These add an additional 0.6 acres of park land. NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS Currently, the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow has seven neighborhood parks. Neighborhood parks vary from 0.8 to 4.8 acres and contain various amenities, including tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic areas, playgrounds, and trails. All together, the City- County’s existing neighborhood parks total 17.12 acres and provide a level of service of 0.49 acres/1,000 persons. The largest neighborhood park is Chester Steele Park. Other sites that provide neighborhood park service include Koprivica Park and many of the elementary schools. At Whittier Elementary and at Ramsay School, Butte-Silver Bow provides maintenance to the school yards that include a variety of recreation facilities. These school sites, more than most, act as neighborhood parks; however, the City-County still has limited control over these sites COMMUNITY PARKS The City-County currently operates three community parks, Clark Park, Father Sheehan, and Stodden Park. These parks range in size from 14 to 117 acres. Each contains playground equipment, sports fields, and restrooms, as well as traditional neighborhood park amenities, such as picnic areas. Altogether, the City-County’s three existing community parks provide the community with 153.5 acres of community park land. Stodden Park is the City-County’s largest park with 117 acres. The City-County currently provides 4.44 acres of community park land/1,000 persons. SPECIAL USE AREAS Butte-Silver Bow currently has eleven special use areas. Three of these parks are skating rinks, and seven are ball parks. Copper Mountain Youth Park, located just west of the Butte city limits, is the largest special use park with 73.5 acres and multiple sports fields. While this park has a variety of recreation opportunities, the primary PAGE 8 PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 purpose of the site is to host sports events and its remote location limits its ability to serve a local area. Altogether, there are 102 acres of special use areas in the study area. The existing level of service for special use areas is 2.95 acres/1,000 persons. There are additional sites in the planning area that serve similar functions including sports facilities located at schools and the ball field at Walkerville Park. NATURAL AREAS At the present time, the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow owns Big Butte, Blacktail Creek, and Basin Creek Reservoir Park. Thompson Park, a 3,500-acre natural area, is co-owned and managed with the U.S. Forest Service. The natural areas parks are mostly outside of the Butte urban limits. The City-County currently provides a total of 120.42 acres of natural area park land/1,000 persons, a figure that is very large in comparison to other categories due to the inclusion of Thompson Park. In addition to these designated park lands, additional properties in public and private ownership provide similar functions. Within these natural areas, different use areas may be defined; for example, Big Butte has both a motorized and a non- motorized recreation area within it. UNDEVELOPED A wide variety of land has been included in the undeveloped park category. Most of the sites are land that was dedicated to the City- County for park use but has yet to be developed. Some of these sites are suitable for park uses but many are leftover, undevelopable property or in a poor location for a developed park. In total, 48 acres of undeveloped park land, mostly made up of smaller fairly isolated sites, are scattered throughout the community. The existing level of service for undeveloped park land, useful for tracking purposes, is 1.38 acres/1,000. MINE/SUPERFUND SITES An important subset of the undeveloped park category is the mine/Superfund land, which includes a large amount of land all around Uptown Butte. The total acreage of the “dedicated” mine/Superfund lands that are likely to become part of the park system is nearly 2,200 acres. This translates to an existing level of service of 63.47 acres/1,000. While the final use of these lands is still under consideration, much of the property is remediated land that cannot be developed. Other parcels in this category include mine structures such as headframes and equipment houses that could be reused. PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT PAGE 13 ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 RECREATION FACILITIES In addition to providing and maintaining park land, the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow is also responsible for the development and maintenance of various recreation facilities within its borders. Currently, the city provides sports fields, other athletic facilities, and various park amenities. Other providers in Butte-Silver Bow also offer recreation facilities. DEFINITIONS The recreation facilities within the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow have been designed and developed to serve particular functions. In order to facilitate future planning, the following definitions have been developed for facilities that the City-County either currently provides or may provide in the future. SPORTS FIELDS Sports fields are an important resource for both organized and informal play. While some sports can be played on any open turfed area, the following sports require either specific field development or dedicated space to ensure that there is enough field space to support sports programs. BASEBALL FIELDS Baseball fields must have a backstop and dugouts, and may have a grass infield. Outfield and baseline dimensions vary according to intended age group and league. An outfield fence, although desirable, is not required. Fields must be level without holes. FOOTBALL FIELDS Football fields are generally 160 feet by 360 feet and must include goal posts. In some cases, football and soccer fields can be used interchangeably. SOCCER FIELDS Soccer fields can vary in dimension according to the intended age group. In order to support regulation play, a soccer field must be at least 50 yards x 80 yards for youth and 60-75 yards x 110-120 yards for adults. One regulation sized field can be used for multiple fields for youth. Portable goals may be used. Fields must be level without holes or mounds. PAGE 14 PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 OTHER ATHLETIC FACILITIES In addition to sports fields, other active recreation facilities are included in parks of various categories. OUTDOOR BASKETBALL COURTS Outdoor basketball courts may be half court or full court, and are generally used for informal, pickup games. Basketball courts are usually constructed in pairs at larger parks and schools. Courts must include regulation hoops and lines. The playing area should be covered with asphalt or some other hard surface. No major cracks or irregularities should exist. SKATE PARKS Skate parks vary in size, with 20,000 square feet as a general standard for a full-size, dedicated facility. Skate parks must have a concrete or other hard surface, and may include half pipes, quarter pipes, and handrails. A skate park may also contain other features designed for tricks, such as ramps, stairs, trick boxes, or pyramids. TENNIS COURTS Tennis courts are generally constructed in pairs or groupings of four or more. Courts must have adequate fencing, net, and color-coated surface. No major cracks or surface regularities should exist. Tennis courts are usually located at larger parks, such as community parks, or at high and middle schools. TRAIL FACILITIES Trails are linear corridors with hard-surfaced or soft-surfaced trails. As with greenways, trails often follow abandoned railroad rights-of- way, power lines, or waterways. Trails usually contain seating and may have associated trailheads, parking, and interpretive signage. Trails provide public access to active recreation such as walking, biking, or running, and alternative transportation options. These areas serve the entire city. VOLLEYBALL COURTS Volleyball courts may be located indoors or outdoors. Outdoor surfaces include turf or sand. Regulation volleyball courts should be 60 feet by 30 feet in size, with a net height that varies with age and gender. Courts may be accompanied by seating areas. ICE SKATING RINK Outdoor ice rinks in Butte-Silver Bow are typically bare earth areas that are leveled and flooded by the park maintenance staff in the PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT PAGE 15 ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 winter for neighborhood skating. Indoor ice facilities and the skating oval maintained at the High Altitude Sports Center are considered separately from this basic winter recreation amenity. GOLF COURSES Golf courses may either consist of nine or 18 holes. Golf courses generally include supporting facilities, such as clubhouses, equipment storage, parking, and trails. INDOOR FACILITIES Indoor facilities generally include: GYMNASIUMS Gymnasium dimensions vary according to intended use, but in order to accommodate regulation basketball, gyms should be 84 feet in length by 50 feet in width. The playing surface should consist of resilient flooring materials. Gymnasiums may be located in free- standing facilities, but more often are located within community centers. WEIGHT ROOM/FITNESS CENTER Weight rooms vary in size and include fitness equipment including free weights and weight machines. They may also have cardio equipment such as stationary bicycles, elliptical machines, stair climbers, and treadmills. A room may also be provided for group exercise. Aquatics facilities, which can be indoor or outdoor, are considered in a separate section, below. OTHER PARK AMENITIES Other park amenities typically provided by parks and recreation agencies include: HORSESHOES Horseshoe pits consist of sand boxes with a metal stake serving as a target. Pits come in pairs and in many cases several pairs are located together for group play. NATURAL AREAS In addition to parks that are entirely maintained in natural or open space character, parks can contain natural areas as features of parks PAGE 16 PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 along side other more developed features. This could include a restored creek bed that runs through an otherwise developed park or a grove of trees in an open area of a park. PICNIC AREAS Picnic areas are groupings of one or more picnic tables within a park setting. Picnic areas may be situated under shade structures or in permanent pavilions, in which case, they are referred to as group picnic areas. Often, barbecue pits or grills are provided. Drinking water and restrooms should be located within easy walking distance. Usually, group picnic areas can be reserved for a fee by groups for family or business events, weddings, and other gatherings. PLAYGROUNDS Playgrounds occur in all shapes and sizes, and may contain multiple design components. Playgrounds can also be designed to incorporate thematic areas with interpretive and educational elements. Playgrounds can be constructed using a variety of materials, but must include impact-attenuating surfacing and a sufficient barrier to separate preschool and school-age areas and keep children safe from traffic and conflicting uses. RESTROOMS Restrooms can be unisex/single-occupant facilities, multiple single- occupant facilities within one structure, or gender-separated facilities of varying capacities. They can be either self-contained or part of a larger community facility. Restrooms are a highly valued facility, particularly at park sites that are distant from home and for activities that last multiple hours. PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT PAGE 17 ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 EXISTING RECREATION FACILITIES Currently, the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow provides a variety of recreation facilities, which are summarized in Table 2. A more detailed inventory is included in Appendix A. Note: other providers include school districts, YMCA and others. Table 2: Summary of Butte-Silver Bow Recreation Facilities City- County Other Total SPORTS FIELDS Baseball Field 22 3 25 Football Field 4 6 10 Soccer Field 0 13 13 OTHER ATHLETIC FACILITIES Outdoor Basketball Courts 6.5 11.5 18 Skate Park 1 0 1 Tennis Court 11 12 23 Volleyball Court 3 3 6 Ice Skating Rink 6 2 8 AQUATIC FACILITIES Pool 0 5 5 INDOOR FACILITIES Gym 0 14 14 Weight Room/Fitness Center 0 6 6 OTHER PARK AMENITIES Golf Course 1 2 3 Group Picnic Area 5 0 5 Playground 15 9 24 Restroom 5 0 5 SPORTS FIELDS Sports fields in Butte-Silver Bow are a part of many of the larger parks in the system but also exist as stand-alone facilities. The categories of sports fields that will be considered in this plan include: BASEBALL FIELDS Currently, the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow has 23 dedicated baseball fields in its inventory. All but one baseball field is owned by the City-County. Father Sheehan Park and Cooper Mountain Youth Park have the most baseball fields, with six and four baseball fields respectively. The majority of baseball facilities are located in special use parks. There are no baseball fields located at schools. The lighted stadium field at Montana Tech includes a baseball field. PAGE 18 PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 FOOTBALL FIELDS Ten developed football fields are located in Butte-Silver Bow. Four fields are located at the Copper Mountain Youth Park and the remaining six are distributed among school sites and the Montana Tech stadium complex. SOCCER FIELDS The park inventory includes 13 soccer fields located in Butte-Silver Bow. These fields are on the grounds of Butte schools. Most of these fields can be used for practice by football or soccer. The Jeremy Bullock fields at Margaret Leary School has eight soccer fields that are used for the Montana Cup Series. OTHER ATHLETIC FACILITIES In addition to sports fields, parks in Butte-Silver Bow include a variety of other facilities for active sports. BASKETBALL COURTS The City-County of Butte-Silver Bow has 18 outdoor basketball courts. Half of the mini parks have one basketball hoop. Six basketball courts are located in a City-County park. The majority of hoops are located at local schools and Montana Tech. SKATE PARKS There is currently one skate park in Butte-Silver Bow at Parrot Park. This facility includes in-ground concrete bowls and other above- ground shaped concrete elements. There are currently no other providers of skate parks in the area. TENNIS COURTS There are 23 tennis courts in Butte-Silver Bow. The City-County owns and operates 11 courts. The remainder are operated by Montana Tech, local schools, and Fairmont Hot Springs. The largest tennis facilty is Stodden Park with six tennis courts. TRAILS The Copperway Trails and Butte Heritage Park Trails are a network of non-vehicular trails linking a variety of cultural sites designed to celebrate the area’s history. The trail system includes paved and unpaved sections that connect the Visitor Center to Father Sheehan Park and Montana Tech. Other existing segments of the regional trail system include a trail along the Butte Anaconda Pacific railroad corridor and Silver Bow Creek Greenway Trails. Existing plans for expansion include linking the Chamber of Commerce facility to the greenway with a new trail that will cross Montana Street. PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT PAGE 19 ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 When completed, the Maud S Canyon Trail, located on private and U.S. Forest Service property, will connect the urban trail system to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Copper Mountain Youth Park, McGruff/Manning Park and Father Sheehan Park all include internal trails that provide an accessible path of travel around the park as well as opportunities for fitness walking within the site. VOLLEYBALL COURTS The City-County of Butte-Silver Bow has six volleyball courts. The City-County operates three that are located at Clark Park and Copper Mountain Youth Park. East Middle School has two outdoor sand volleyball courts, and Koprivica Park also has a volleyball court. GOLF COURSES There is one publicly owned golf course, Highland View, and a driving range at Copper Mountain Youth Park. The Highland View course includes nine, par 3, holes. Butte Country Club has an 18- hole golf course with limited public use. Fairmont Hot Springs, located 15 miles west of Butte, also has an 18-hole golf course. TRACKS Two existing running track facilities exist in Silver Bow County. Both are located on school district property, one at East Middle School and the other at West Elementary. ICE SKATING RINKS Butte-Silver Bow provides a number of neighborhood ice rinks in the park system. Many of these are special use sites with little development that are flooded and cleared of snow to provide access to skating and ice sports. An additional indoor facility is provided by the Butte Amateur Hockey Association, in the former armory building adjacent to Clark Park. OTHER Both private and public providers offer a variety of additional recreation facilities, including a climbing wall at the Northern Rockies Outdoor Center, handball courts (indoor and outdoor) at Montana Tech, and motor sports facilities in Ramsay. PAGE 20 PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 INDOOR FACILITIES While most of the athletic facilities provided in the planning area are located outdoors, indoor recreation facilities serve an important role in the overall recreation of Butte-Silver Bow residents. The short outdoor season for most sports makes indoor space for sports and exercise an important asset. GYMNASIUMS The City-County of Butte-Silver Bow has public gym space located in the Civic Center. This facility, with two separate gym floors, is available to the public when no other events are scheduled at the Civic Center. Butte-Silver Bow schools are the single biggest provider of gym space. Altogether, the public schools offer 12 gymnasiums. The YMCA Family Fitness Center, The Knights of Columbus and Montana Tech each offer a gymnasium. WEIGHT ROOMS/FITNESS CENTERS There are six weight room facilities in Butte, including the recently opened Butte Family YMCA. The City-County does not own a weight room, but several are located at public schools, and there is one a Montana Tech. Two private fitness centers, 24 Hour Fitness and ST Fitness, also serve the area. OTHER PARK AMENITIES A variety of other facilities add recreational value to the park sites. These include places to gather and play and the various supporting facilities that make visits to parks more pleasant. GROUP PICNIC AREAS There are four large group picnic areas in Butte-Silver Bow, located at Father Sheehan Park, Stodden Park, Copper Mountain Youth Park, and Basin Creek County Park. Smaller picnic shelters at Clark Park provide an additional location for gatherings. PICNIC AREAS In addition to the larger gathering areas, there are picnic areas consisting of at least one table. Six picnic areas are located in various neighborhood parks. None of the mini parks has a picnic table. Picnic tables are not present in the school sites. HORSESHOES Butte-Silver Bow currently has two horseshoe facilities that are located at Stodden Park and Basin Creek County Park. At the PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT PAGE 21 ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 present time, there are no other horseshoe facilities in Butte Silver- Bow. PLAYGROUNDS Butte-Silver Bow has 24 playground facilities. Playground facilities are present in most developed parks. However, in several mini parks, equipment that was originally part of the park has been removed due to age and not replaced. In addition to the park playgrounds, there are six playgrounds located at local elementary schools. RESTROOMS Butte-Silver Bow provides five restroom facilities in the park system. Each of the community parks and two special use parks include stand-alone restroom facilities accessible to park users during their posted hours. PAGE 22 PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 AQUATIC FACILITIES The opportunity to get wet, cool down, learn to swim, compete, or just get a low-impact workout are all important benefits of aquatics facilities. This analysis separates aquatic facilities from other park and recreation facilities due to their special significance to the community as well as the additional resources—both staff and financial—that are required to build and maintain them. DEFINITIONS Aquatic facilities typically include pools and other opportunities for water play, such as spray features, water parks and wading pools. These facilities vary in size and depth according to intended age group and use. They may be located both indoors and outdoors, and may be recreational or competition-oriented in nature. Recreational pools often include water features designed for use by different age groups, such as slides or spray elements. EXISTING AQUATIC FACILITIES The only public aquatic facility in Butte-Silver Bow is a wading pool in Chester Steele Park. However, there are five pools in the area. There is a six-lane 25-meter pool at Montana Tech, an indoor recreational pool at the Butte County Club, and two hot spring pools at Fairmont Hot Springs, 15 miles west of Butte. The new facility at Butte Family YMCA includes an eight-lane lap pool, and a zero- depth entry family pool with two water slides. In addition to these pools, a small wading pool and splash feature are included in Chester Steele Park. The publically owned pool at Stodden Park was permanently closed in 2006, because the age and condition of the pool had passed the point where repairs were cost-effective. Residents of Butte-Silver Bow voted to contribute the funding used to operate the Stodden Park Pool, staffed under contract by the YMCA, to the new indoor YMCA facility. As part of this agreement, the pool at the YMCA is open to the public with no membership required. PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT PAGE 23 ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 BIBLIOGRAPHY Anaconda-Butte Heritage Corridor. 1993. Regional Historic Preservation Plan. Butte Country Club. May 2007. Golf Course Master Plan Report. City-County of Butte-Silver Bow. October 2005. 2005 Butte-Silver Bow Transportation Plan. City-County of Butte-Silver Bow. October 1989. Parks and Recreation Plan of Community Facilities Element, Butte-Silver Bow Master Plan. State of Montana Natural Resource Damage Program. December 2005. Silver Bow Creek Watershed Restoration Plan. U.S. Census Bureau. 2000. Decennial Census. PAGE 24 PARK & FACILITY ANALYSIS REPORT ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 PARK NAME ACREAGE BASEBALL FIELD FOOTBALL FIELD SOCCER FIELD BASKETBALL COURT SKATE PARK TENNIS COURT VOLLEYBALL COURT ICE SKATING RINK GOLF COURSE GROUP PICNIC AREA HORSE- SHOES NATURAL AREA PICNIC AREA PLAY- GROUND REST- ROOMS POOL OTHER GYM WEIGHTS/ FITNESS OTHER FACILITIES MINI PARKS Cherokee Park 0.57 0.5 1 Copper & Emmett 0.47 1 Fleecer Park 0.35 1 Granite & Henry 0.28 0.5 1 Hanna Park 0.21 0.5 1 Mandan Park 0.25 1 Mural Park 0.19 Peace Park 0.11 People's Park 0.47 0.5 1 Rock Park 0.14 Sioux Park 0.60 0.5 Subtotal 3.64 0 0 0 2.5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS Charley Judd Park 0.82 0.5 1 1 1 Chester Steele Park 4.81 1.0 1 1 Wading Pool Emma Park 1.67 1 JFK Park 3.08 1 1 McGruff\Manning Park 2.32 1 1 Parrot Park 3.18 1 Racetrack Park 1.24 0.5 1 1 1 Subtotal 17.12 0 0 0 2.0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 5 0 0 1 0 0 COMMUNITY PARKS Clark Park 15.66 1.0 1 1 1 Father Sheehan Park 21.00 6 4 1 1 1 Stodden Park 116.82 3 1.0 6 1 1 2 1 Ampitheater Subtotal 153.48 9 0 0 2.0 0 10 1 0 0 3 1 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 SPECIAL USE AREAS Antimony Field 0.47 1 Cinders Field 2.35 1 Civic Center Ball Field 3.02 1 Copper Mountain Youth Park 73.48 4 4 2 Driving Range 1 1 1 Longfellow Field 4.88 3 Main & Center 0.11 1 Missoula Gulch Ball Field 15.72 2 1 Scown Park 0.84 1 1 Skating Rink #1 0.57 1 Skating Rink #2 0.27 1 Skating Rink 0.31 1 Subtotal 102.01 13 4 0 0.0 0 0 2 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 NATURAL AREAS/GREENWAYS Basin Creek County Park 42.45 1 1 Blacktail Creek 9.45 Big Butte 309.44 Thompson/Eagles Nest Park 3,806.08 Subtotal 4,167.42 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 UNDEVELOPED PARKS Mine Sites and Superfund Property 2,196.39 Undeveloped Park Property 47.86 Subtotal 2,244.25 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Butte-Silver Bow Subtotal 6,687.93 22 4 6.5 1 11 3 6 0 5 2 0 6 16 5 0 1 0 0 SPORTS FIELDS OTHER ATHLETIC FACILITIES INDOOR FACILITIES AQUATIC FACILITIES OTHER PARK AMENITIES APPENDIX A:PARK AND FACILITY INVENTORY PAGE 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- BUTTE-SILVER BOW COMPREHENSIVE PARK, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN │ 2008 PARK NAME ACREAGE BASEBALL FIELD FOOTBALL FIELD SOCCER FIELD BASKETBALL COURT SKATE PARK TENNIS COURT VOLLEYBALL COURT ICE SKATING RINK GOLF COURSE GROUP PICNIC AREA HORSE- SHOES NATURAL AREA PICNIC AREA PLAY- GROUND REST- ROOMS POOL OTHER GYM WEIGHTS/ FITNESS OTHER FACILITIES SPORTS FIELDS OTHER ATHLETIC FACILITIES INDOOR FACILITIES AQUATIC FACILITIES OTHER PARK AMENITIES SCHOOLS AND OTHER FACILITIES Butte Civic Center 2 2 1 Multi-use room MAC Center 1 Central High School 1 Central Facility 1 Butte High School 1 3 1 East Middle School 1 2 1 2 2 1 400 meter track, 1 hand ball cout, 1 auditorium West Elementary School 1 1 1 1 Track around field, multipurpose room Emerson Elementary School 1 1 1 Hillcrest Elementary School 1 1 1 Kennedy Elementary School 1 1 1 Margaret Leary Elementary School 1 1 Jeremy Bullock Soccer Fields 8 Whittier Elementary School 2 1 2 1 1 1 Montana Tech Stadium Complex 3 2 4 1 1 4 handball courts, multi prupose rooms Huron Tennis Courts 4 Walkerville Ball Field 0.5 Koprivica Park 1 1.0 1 1 Williamsburg 1 MBMG Skating Rink #2 1 Butte Family YMCA 1 1 Track, hot tub, steam room, multi purpose room, climbing wall Knights of Columbus 1 1 Butte Country Club 1 1 1 handball court Fairmont Hot Springs 2 1 1 2 2 hot pools Subtotal 3 6 13 11.5 0 12 3 2 2 0 0 0 0 9 0 5 14 6 Total 6,687.93 25 10 13 18 1 23 6 8 2 5 2 0 6 25 5 5 14 6 APPENDIX A:PARK AND FACILITY INVENTORY PAGE 2