Caras Park River Access Project: What You Need to Know

On Monday, construction started on the Caras River Access Project, an initiative from Missoula Parks and Recreation designed to enhance access and sustainability to the river bank at Caras Park.

Nathan Mcleod, Associate Director-Planning, Design & Projects at Missoula Parks and Recreation shared details about the project via email and in an interview on KGVO's Talk Back on Friday morning.

Put simply, Mcleod says the project connects the park, trail, and river. Improvements to the riverbank will not only help with erosion but also provide ADA-accessible ramps and improve safety by increasing visibility.

How Did the Project Start? 

"The Caras River Access came from the Downtown Master Plan and the North Riverside Parks and Trails Master Plan where we had a ton of public input on what people wanted to see happen to downtown and what we could do to the park system along the river to make it more accessible and better for the community, " McLeod said in his interview on Talk Back. "This was one of the most popular projects of all the different projects that came out of that." 

McLeod also described the increase in recreational use of the river banks from East Missoula to Russel Street in Missoula. With that increase, he says, restoring the banks to promote better water quality and having better habitat and vegetation will be important, as well as protecting existing infrastructure.

What Changes Will Be Made? 

The North Riverside Parks and Trails Plan includes a rendering of what the improved riverbank will look like and can be seen here. Change swill include stair access from the river to the shore, multiple viewing levels, and natural materials like boulders, rocks, native vegetation to try to "soften the look," McLeod says.

How Long Will the Project Take? 

Construction started on September 23, 2024, and will be completed by the spring of 2025. Parts of the trail will be closed to allow for construction.

How is the Project Funded? 

Most of the funding is from a $1.2M federal grant from the Economic Development Administration. Other funding has come from private donations.

The Caras River Access project is one component of a larger plan, Mcleod says, and there are other access sites and some restoration work on the South Bank of the river in Toole Park planned for next summer.

What Can We Do to Be Better Stewards of the River? 

Mcleod says there are some simple ways to be mindful and respect the river.

• Don't step on the plants.
• Pick up trash.
• Use the dedicated trails to help prevent erosion.

For more information about the phases of the project, project costs and funding, the goals of the project, visit the Clark Fork River Restoration & Access Project page on the Engage Missoula website.