EBS STAFF
On April 23 Gallatin County Commissioners voted unanimously to spend $648,158 to help fund nine projects that support open space in Bozeman, Three Forks, West Yellowstone, Big Sky, Bridger Canyon and waterways across the Gallatin Valley as a part of the Public Open Lands Project. The money comes from the voter-approved Gallatin County Open Space Levy, which passed in 2018. This year, there is about $3.5 million total available for the program.
“This is a really fun exercise to be reminded of all the great work that’s happening out there in the community in providing conservation and recreation infrastructure across the county,” Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown said in an April 24 Gallatin County press release. “They all add incredible richness and value to our communities.”
A list of the projects funded include:
Headwaters Trail System – A network of about 12 miles of paved trails that runs along the former Milwaukee Railroad bed through the city of Three Forks – $100,000
Big Sky Owners Association – Little Coyote Pond Fishing Access and amenities – $100,000
Gallatin River Task Force – Greek Creek streambank restoration and river access improvement project – $50,000
Gallatin Watershed Council – Cleanup of streams and rivers in the Lower Gallatin Watershed – $10,308
Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter – Improvements at Maxi Park, an 18-acre off-leash dog park at the shelter – $17,850
Trout Unlimited – Third phase of the Dry Creek restoration project that would restore 14 additional stream banks – $50,000
West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation – construction of the Rendezvous Operations Building to serve as a base for the Rendezvous Trail System – $100,000
Crosscut Mountain Sports Center – construction of 3 kilometers of paved trail for roller-skiing – $100,000
Gallatin County Regional Park – construction of a 1,200 square-foot shop to store park supplies and equipment, and a connecting trail to the park and an asphalt walkway along Vaquero Parkway – $100,000
