Subscribe
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Leaders kick off Gardiner Gateway project

in Yellowstone
Megan Paulsonby Megan Paulson
June 14, 2012

GARDINER – Walk into a business on Park Street in Gardiner, and you’re in Park County, Montana. Step out onto the sidewalk, and you’re in Yellowstone National Park.

Gardiner’s historic downtown literally straddles the park boundary. The historic Roosevelt Arch, too, is split between national park service and county property.

That’s why a broad group of stakeholders from the region that include federal, state, local and nonprofit groups have agreed to work together on the planning, design and construction of new infrastructure along the “Gardiner Gateway” to Yellowstone National Park.

Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad

Work on improvements addressing visitor safety, visitor services and improved traffic circulation is expected to begin later this year. The updates are designed to enhance the visitor experience, while promoting Montana tourism and local economic development.

It all started because the north entrance station to the park wasn’t functioning efficiently enough, said park spokesman for the project Joe Regula. In the past few years as park visitor numbers skyrocketed, the station has caused traffic jams with vehicles backed up several miles—under the arch, down Park Street, past the bridge on Main Street and down to U.S. Highway 89.

On Thursday, June 14, a group of leaders involved with the project signed a Memorandum of Understanding in a ceremony at Arch Park, the original entrance to Yellowstone. The signatories included Gov. Brian Schweitzer, YNP superintendent Dan Wenk, Park County commissioner Marty Malone, Greater Gardiner Community Council president Bill Berg and Gardiner Chamber of Commerce president Daniel Bierschwale.

Together, the Greater Gardiner Community Council and the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce made plans to leverage the project to benefit of civic and business interests.

Basically, they were “making sure the work being done on the park service side actually carries over into the county side of Main Street and down the 89 corridor,” said Daniel Bierschwale, President of the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce.

Specifically, this means finding a location for public restrooms, and improve pedestrian safety, and fix issues with road drainage, potholes, fire hydrants and lighting.

The Chamber is also looking to use the project as a platform to tell the town’s story, Bierschwale said, mentioning a proposed historic walking tour that would tell the community’s ranching, railroad, mining and tourism history.

The estimated completion date of 2016 coincides with the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

The goal is to make Gardiner the premiere entrance to the park, Bierschwale said. “It’s the original gateway to Yellowstone National Park.”

While the boundary is physical, Regula said, but the functionality of how the area operates is very universal and requires all the players to talk and work together and makes some improvements.”

Outlaw Realty Outlaw Realty
Outlaw Realty
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Hoary Marmot Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes

Upcoming Events

May 27
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Event Series

American Legion Bingo

May 30
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at the Waypoint

Jun 5
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Birds and Brews: Explore MOR Adult Exploration Series

Jun 6
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at the Waypoint

Jun 13
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at the Waypoint

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

Beartooth Highway projected to open Friday
Regional

Beartooth Highway projected to open Friday

May 20, 2025
Food-conditioned grizzly bear trapped and killed in Yellowstone National Park
Regional

Food-conditioned grizzly bear trapped and killed in Yellowstone National Park

May 16, 2025
Legacy in the Land
Conservation

Legacy in the Land

May 12, 2025
UM study: Montanans share common love toward grizzly bears
Conservation

FWS cancels public meetings around grizzly ESA status

January 30, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Plan Yellowstone
  • Big Sky PBR
  • Wildlands Music
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Hey Bear

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube