Public Input Sought for Kalispell Parks and Recreation “Master Plan”

KALISPELL — The City of Kalispell is launching a comprehensive update to its Parks and Recreation Master Plan, scheduling three public engagement events in July to gather resident input on the future of city parks and recreation facilities.

The update comes nearly two decades after the city’s last master plan in 2006, with Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher noting that such plans are typically updated every 10-20 years. The new plan will serve as a roadmap for city decision-makers, guiding priorities and investments in parks, trails, facilities, and recreation programs through 2035.

“This plan will guide priorities and decisions in how we play, explore, relax, and connect in our parks for the next 10 years,” according to the city’s announcement.

Building on Previous Progress

The 2006 master plan led to several key improvements, including the development of park classifications and maintenance standards, identification of surplus unusable properties that had been misclassified during subdivision development, creation of additional sporting fields, and conceptual planning for parks in growing areas of the city.

Fincher said the most frequent resident requests in recent years have focused on trail connections, a community center, regional-type parks, and senior programming—areas that will likely feature prominently in community discussions during the engagement process.

Engagement Timeline

The city has outlined an extensive community engagement timeline extending through early 2026:

• Community engagement: August 2025 – January 2026
• Partner and stakeholder meetings: June – July 2025
• Community questionnaire: June – July 2025
• Social media outreach: June 2025 – February 2026
• Final presentation to city council: February 2026

Fincher emphasized that the timeline remains fluid and that the city hopes to achieve broad community participation rather than targeting a specific number of participants. “We are hoping that we can have as much conversation with the community members as possible,” he said. “Our hopes [are] that our community participates to show a true representation of our community’s input.”

July Events

The city has scheduled three public engagement opportunities to kick off the process:

Parks & Recreation Planning Open House

• When: July 8, 4:00–7:00 PM
• Where: Parks and Recreation Offices, 15 Depot Park
• Light refreshments will be served

Picnic in the Park Pop-Up

• When: July 9, 12:00–1:30 PM
• Where: Depot Park
• Features a bubble station

Ice Cream Social Pop-Up

• When: July 9, 6:00–8:00 PM
• Where: Depot Park
• Free ice cream courtesy of Park Side Credit Union and free toppings courtesy of Kalispell Parks and Recreation

Budget Questions Remain

While Fincher provided details about the planning timeline and previous accomplishments, questions about budget constraints remain unanswered at this early stage. The director noted that “the master plan isn’t completed to fully comprehend what the improvements are and their potential costs.”

This presents both an opportunity and a challenge for community engagement: residents can contribute ideas without artificial budget limitations, but they may also find themselves discussing aspirations rather than realistic trade-offs between competing priorities.

Alternative Participation

For residents unable to attend the scheduled events, the city is providing several ways to stay engaged with the planning process. Residents can sign up for Parks and Recreation Master Plan notifications at www.kalispell.com/notifyme, visit the dedicated project website at www.kalispell.com/masterplan, or follow updates on the Kalispell Parks and Recreation Facebook page.

The city describes the initiative as an opportunity for “weekend warriors, nature lovers, kids at heart, or just someone who loves a good picnic” to contribute to the planning process, asking residents to share what’s working well, identify gaps, and propose future improvements.

For additional information, residents can contact Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher at 406-758-7960 or [email protected], or City Clerk and Communications Manager Aimee Brunckhorst at 406-758-7756 or [email protected].