Who Is That in Our Backyard
by Chris Clasby
The simple answer to that question… We all are! Thanks to several Five Valleys Land Trust (FVLT) projects underway and the organization’s focus on open-space and public access, we can all enjoy more of what Western Montana offers. Summer is a great time to pursue opportunities like these, and two particular projects minutes from Missoula will soon provide inclusive public access. The Dean Stone Mountain project on the south side of Missoula and the Rock Creek Confluence project east of Missoula are under development through public and private partnerships with FVLT at the helm. Summit Independent Living is excited to be a partner on these projects.
The Rock Creek project first came to the attention of Summit staff last July. FVLT had worked with a local Boy Scout who earned his Eagle Badge by coordinating a parking lot and accessible trail last summer. FVLT was open to Summit’s involvement, and the partnership began. Plans are underway to have the trail fully accessible with interpretive signs and possibly a braille trail component for blind/low vision interpretation. There is also an accessible parking place in the parking lot, picnic table, and will be a fully ADA accessible vault toilet nearby. Other future plans include work with Montana FWP to create limited block management hunting opportunities.
In 2012 the Rock Creek project began when FVLT acquired the land on which a subdivision was proposed but denied. Ownership changed and ultimately went to the land trust with financial help from a broad group of public and private partners. Since then, efforts have been underway to restore the area and create access. In 2013, FVLT acquired an additional 2.5 miles of adjacent Clark Fork River frontage which provides direct access to the Rock Creek/Clark Fork confluence.
Another FVLT project even closer to Missoula is the Dean Stone Mountain project in Missoula’s South Hills. This several thousand acre project is underway with plans for contiguous public access from Pattee Canyon to Miller Creek Road. The project will provide public access for multiple uses. Phase I is currently underway which includes the Barmeyer Trail and South Hills Spur trails. Access is provided from near the gravel pit up Pattee Canyon and leads users into the upper South Hills above Mansion Heights near the end of Whitaker Drive.
Phase II will include further development of 2500 acres across that mountain’s southeastern flank which was acquired from The Nature Conservancy and is checkerboarded among land owned by Montana DNRC. Phase III includes possible additional adjacent land acquisitions to create better easements to this public space. Discussions are underway with multiple private landowners.
On Sunday, June 3 FVLT celebrated a public grand opening of trails at the Barmeyer Trail and South Hills Spur. People were welcome to hike the trail or take a fully accessible shuttle bus to a meeting place above the South Hills overlooking the Missoula Valley. Hundreds of interested people and potential beneficiaries of the efforts meandered the hillside, walked the trail, and enjoyed cold drinks provided by FVLT.
Summit staff members are pleased to participate in activities with FVLT and find it refreshing to work with a group which is so open-minded and willing to work on inclusive access initially rather than addressing issues later. Cooperative and collaborative opportunities like these can work to permanently secure, enhance, and expand recreational opportunities for all community members.
For more information about these and other FVLT projects, please go to: http://www.fvlt.org/all
