‘People have expressed clearly, they want grass… We are listening to that’
By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
As the Big Sky Community Organization pushes for voter approval on a $6.8 million bond allowing Resort Tax to fund renovations of the Big Sky Community Park through public debt, board chair John McGuire announced a significant change to the plan during the March 13 Resort Tax board meeting.
According to strong feedback from the community, McGuire explained, BSCO has pivoted away from artificial turf playing fields, opting instead to reconstruct its fields using natural grass with modernized construction and improved drainage.
“We look at this community park as the crown jewel of our town,” McGuire told the board, discussing its importance as a host for youth and adult sports. He added that community members have expressed “pretty uniform” and “valid” concerns regarding safety, environmental impacts and aesthetics of artificial turf.
“And at BSCO we want to be responsive to the community,” McGuire said.
He added confidence that BSCO can still closely address their goals including improved grading and drainage, field expansion to allow for adult-sized baseball among other sports, and lengthened playing seasons, without endangering the environment and Gallatin River.
“People have expressed clearly, they want grass,” McGuire said. “We would have had to fence off that soccer field to protect the investment of that turf… that’s a big change, and people reacted to that. We are listening to that, and here in front of the board, agree that we will move forward with natural grass on those fields.”
Marco DelGuidice, director of parks and trails for BSCO, explained that the natural grass will feature improved drainage profiles including sand—currently fields aren’t constructed with sand and often hold standing water. The renovation will promote early-season turf growth and allow the maintenance crew hold Big Sky’s fields to a higher standard.
“Now that they are going to be properly constructed, we are going to be able to have fewer cancellations due to weather with the natural grass, because the fields will be able to accommodate storm water and spring runoff,” DelGuidice explained. “It will be nicer to be maintaining, instead of repairing.”
A BSCO press release noted that the nonprofit spent months researching the best course of action, and that BSCO recognizes the environmental benefits of natural grass.
“This approach aligns with our promise to preserve Big Sky’s natural beauty continuing to offer world-class recreational opportunities,” the release stated.
However, the future of the park depends on voters.
The May 6 mail-in election will allow residents to decide on public debt for Big Sky Community Park among other projects. Bonding for projects including BSCO’s park renovation will not increase taxes, but they will authorize Resort Tax to use a long-term financing mechanism to pay for costly local infrastructure.
BSCO believes that as Big Sky works to improve its “livability” for anyone from year-round community members to visitors, the Community Park Bond will ensure Big Sky’s “crown jewel” remains a valuable community asset into the future.
