Missoula Considering Purchase of Open Space in Pattee Canyon

The Barmeyer family in Missoula is working with the Five Valleys Land Trust and the city of Missoula on a potential open space land donation in the Pattee Canyon area.

"The way they described it to me, is that they don't want to hoard this place like smog sitting on a pile of treasure they actually want to share it," Five Valley's Land Trust Director Pelah Hoyt said. "So, it's protected with Conservation easements and about 90 acres would go to the city of Missoula. It would protect the wildlife habitat and open up a brand new trail head for the city of Missoula. This would be made possible by the open space bond."

Hoyt says that the donation will require some funding though, and that will need to be approved by city council.

"We're requesting up to $270,000, but it might not end up costing that much," Hoyt said. "That funding would go to the purchase of the conservation easements, some of the transaction costs associated with that, and with getting the land into city hands, and also some of the work to prepare the site for public use."

If Missoula City Council agrees to use open space bond money for the deal, Hoyt expects it to go through this summer, but the trail and space won’t be ready for the public for at least another year.