Ground Breaking Set For Fort Missoula Regional Park

This Saturday, October 10, Fort Missoula Regional Park will break ground on a $36 million upgrade funded by Missoula County taxpayers through the 2014 County Parks and Trails Bond.

"We're having a ground-breaking ceremony for the Fort Missoula Regional Park project," said Missoula County Parks and Trails Manager Lisa Moisey. "This will be held on Saturday, October 10 at 10 a.m. Folks will be gathering at the kiosk which is located off of Gardsman Lane. We will have light refreshments and a chance for kids and their families to use some shovels and break ground."

Speakers at the event include Missoula County Commissioner Jean Curtiss and Missoula Mayor John Engen. Work on the park will develop over a few phases. Moisey describes what will be developed through stage one, which begins this weekend.

"This will be the ground-breaking for phase 1, which is the western portion of the park," Moisey said. "This portion includes our multi-use sports fields, our picnic pavilion with a plaza area, playgrounds, trails, and new restrooms."

The work on phase one is expected to go through next fall. Phase two will encompass the western half of the park and include a new dog park and pond, it is expected to be completed in Fall of 2017.