Who should I call to
find out about specific current or planned trail projects around Missoula?
Contact Dave
Shaw,
Parks and Trails Development Manager, at
552-6264, email
dshaw@ci.missoula.mt.us.
For information on non-motorized
transportation issues, contact Phil Smith, Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator, at 258-4626, email psmith@ci.missoula.mt.us.
Parks and Trails Development
Updates
updated 9-05
Dave
Shaw is the latest addition to the planning staff at Parks and Recreation. Dave
is the department’s new Parks and Trails Design Development Manager. He recently
graduated from Washington State University with a Masters Degree in Landscape
Architecture and has a Bachelors Degree in Horticulture from Utah State
University. During his schooling he worked in the landscape construction
industry giving him valuable experience in applying the knowledge gained from
his education. He also spent a year and a half in Portland Oregon doing
landscape design for a landscape maintenance company.
Dave enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and cycling with his family. He is excited
to be able to live and work in a place as beautiful as Missoula. Dave has said,
"It is such a great opportunity to be in a position where I can be an active
part of the betterment and beautification of this town. I love it that I can do
things that help improve the high quality of life that people enjoy here and I
hope to keep improving it to the best of my ability." Dave can be reached at
552-6264 or dshaw@ci.missoula.mt.us
Expansion of South Hills Trails System
In conjunction with landowners in the
South Hills area, Parks and Recreation is expanding a portion of the South Hills
Trail System called the Meadow Hills Trail. This project will include the
addition of a new trail connection through Wapikiya Park and the improvement of
existing trails in Honeysuckle Park.
The trail will connect local
neighborhood blocks to Meadow Hill School and will be almost completely
off-street. The project is funded in part by the Montana Department of
Transportation’s Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP.) New trail
sections are slated to open in late spring, 2006.
Milwaukee Trail - West of Russell
It is a goal of Parks and Recreation to
continually improve the connectivity of the non-motorized commuter routes
through Missoula. One of the major east/west routes is the Milwaukee Trail,
which becomes the Kim Williams Trail east of UM. Currently, the trail’s western
boundary is at Russell Street. With major development occurring in west Missoula
(Reserve & Mullan) it is necessary to provide non-motorized facilities for those
current and future residents.
The Milwaukee railroad line heading
west from Russell would be an ideal route for a commuter pathway all the way out
to Mullan Road. Parks and Recreation will be pursuing easements along the old
railroad bed to create this vital connection for a more functional and connected
commuter route.
Be A Sidewalk and Trail User
Be a User: Use Missoula’s Trails and
Sidewalks Every Day," was launched in June 2005 to encourage daily walking.
Including walking into the day, by walking to work, to school, or the store is a
great way to achieve health benefits without having to add additional tasks to
one’s day. This fall, MOVE will offer mini-CDs filled with trail
maps of Missoula and nearby recreational areas. We are targeting the four
neighborhoods with the highest reported rates of obesity and lowest reported
rates of physical activity: Rattlesnake, Riverfront/Dickinson/Orchard Homes,
University/Rose Park, and Pattee Canyon/South Hills.
For more information, contact the Move Missoula Project
at the the Missoula City-County Health Department, 258-4775.
