This website is intended to inform voters in Missoula about the proposed regional park to be built at Fort Missoula.
Fort Missoula Regional Park
Wheel Chair Garden Why a Regional Park for Missoula?
Parks and open spaces are Missoula's pride and joy. We go to them to play sports, watch wildlife, enjoy uncluttered views, picnic with family and friends.

Our county is growing, however. And we want and need more special places where we can go to breathe, to relax, to flourish. With 246 acres and the potential for new and varied recreation, Fort Missoula is the best investment we can make for our future.

Who benefits?
  • City of Missoula residents, Missoula County residents and visitors from afar .
  • Business, through locally hosted tournaments, community events, and tourism.
  • Families, through enjoyment of playgrounds, picnic areas, trails and water recreation.
  • Conservationists, through river access, wildlife corridors, bird habitat and native plants.
  • Athletes, through facilities for softball, soccer, rugby, volleyball, basketball, tennis, horseshoes and croquet.
  • Kids, through safe places to play and learn.
Who is FFMRP (Friends of Fort Missoula Regional Park)? FFMRP is dedicated to the development of the Fort Missoula Regional Park for the benefit of the entire community by promoting sports, recreation, science, historical and cultural opportunities and community benefits. FFMRP founding members:
  • Missoula Strikers Soccer
  • YMCA
  • Missoula Maggots Rugby
  • FC Missoula Soccer
  • Missoula Softball Association
  • Soccer Players of Missoula
  • Ultimate Players of Missoula
Your neighbors support the Fort Missoula Regional Park.
These neighbors and groups support the Fort Missoula Regional Park. Fort Missoula Regional Park has strong and widespread support. Mayor John Engen and former Mayor Mike Kadas, County Commissioners Bill Carey, and Jean Curtiss, State Senators Vicki Cochiarella and Dale Mahlum, Pat Williams, Barbara Evans, Clark Fork Coalition, Doug Chase, Milt Datsopolous, Charlie Brown, Karen Knudsen, Dick Haines, Gail Gutsche, Jon Ellingson, Kathy Owens, Nancy Rice-Fritz, Bill Rossbach, Melissa Hart, John Hart, National Widlife Federation, Tom Beers, Ron Erickson, Nancy Erickson, Wildwest Institute, Karl Englund, Bruce Micklus, Helen Bolle, Steve Loken, Lloyd Twite, Jim Van Fossen, Friends of Missoula Parks, Kent Bevington, Bobbi Bevington, Andy Laue, Rafael Chacon, Martha Yates, Carolyn Squires, Jim Sadler, Fern Hart, Gerald Behrens, and a host of others.

Sponsored by Friends of Fort Missoula Regional Park

Click on image for a larger view. PDF of Fort Missoula Park Map Now is the time.
Citizens and government have been working together since 1994 to develop a regional park. The Missoula City Council and Missoula County Commission have both unanimously adopted the park plan. With the donation of an additional 86.5 acres of land by JTL Group, the time is right to turn Fort Missoula into a renowned regional park. All the pieces are in place, except the start-up construction money.

The total cost of developing this entire regional park is yet to be determined. It is anticipated that engineering and design work will be completed in early 2008, and from that cost estimates can be generated. The June 2008 ballot will include a mil levy vote that will partially fund Phase One of construction.

Mill levy funds open the door to other grants and matching sources for project completion.This community investment will have a huge and immediate pay-off. In three years, the first phase of construction will be in place, with the entire complex finished in less than 10 years.

The Numbers
Existing Fort Missoula Park: 60 acres includes: 1 mile path, 8 tennis courts, 3 soccer fields, 6 softball diamonds, 1 rugby pitch, horseshoes, 1 playground.

The plan for the future Fort Missoula Regional Park include: An additional 160 acres including 3 miles of trails, 3 picnic shelters, 10 multi-use (soccer, rugby, football, ultimate, etc), 1 pavilion (year round use-ice/events), croquet, volleyball, basketball, natural and human made water features, historical and archeological interpretation, art, gardens, fully accessible, teen park, playgrounds, open native vegetation and grass areas, parking, ponds, picnic areas and Bitterroot River access. The recreation and leisure opportunities in a community are the strongest predictor of an individual's overall satisfaction with their community.

County-wide

  • 30-35% of current Fort Missoula park users are County residents.
  • Soccer and tennis facilities are already used by outlying schools
  • Park will be a destination site for the region.
    		• What will a regional park do for our economy?
    A Regional Park at Fort Missoula will be a big, concrete boost to our county's economy.

    The new soccer fields will attract tournaments that will generate $3 million a year in revenue. Softball and other special events will add millions of dollars more. Other economic benefits will come from the Fort's natural, historical and cultural resources that are increasingly important draws for visitors.


    VOTE FOR OUR FUTURE….LEAVE A LEGACY…BUILD A REGIONAL PARK AND BUILD WELLNESS, COMMUNITY PRIDE, A STRONGER ECONOMY AND A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT.

    VOTE JUNE 2008
    Contact: John Oetinger, 406-370-6886, johno@ctgmt.com