Missoula PROST Priorities

Welcome to the City of Missoula Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Prioritization Exercise

Missoula Parks and Recreation is collaborating with residents to draft a new master Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails (PROST) plan for the greater Missoula Valley. It will stand as a blueprint for the next 10-15 years of parks, trails, open space, and recreation services to residents. We are inviting the community to provide input about their priorities for our system. Please help us shape the future of Missoula by completing this survey and sharing it with your friends.

Thank you for participating in this survey. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

You're the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Manager and you have to decide how much money to spend on the project categories below. You have $500 to spend in each project category. You can spend all of your money on one item, divide it evenly, or spend different amounts on your preferred items. How would you like to divide up the City's park budget?

For example, for the Park & Facilities Priorities, you could spend $200 on New Indoor Recreation Facility, $100 on River Access, and $200 on Maintenance, Cleanliness, and Safety. You have to spend exactly $500 in each category.

Note: the dollar signs next to each item is the general cost of each item, between $-$$$$.

Question Title

* Park & Facility Priorities

Adding Nature & Habitat ($ per site). Increase nature and habitat in developed parks by removing turf grass and adding native plants and trees.

Maintenance, Cleanliness, and Safety ($ per year). Increase efforts in existing parks and facilities.

River Access ($ per access point). Develop river access such as paddle launches, beaches, and developed trails to river’s edge.

New Parks in Gap Areas ($$$ per park). Acquire land for new parks in areas that lack them.

New Indoor Recreation Facility ($$$$). Expand Currents to add a gym, arts space, and a flexible large event space with additional year-round recreation space.

Playfair Park Enhancement ($$$$). Update features, add playground, increase diversity of uses and activities in the park

Sports Fields Upgrades ($$ per field). Improve, upgrade, and add sports fields in parks around the city.

Additional Recreation Facilities ($ per facility). Add facilities to existing parks, such as dog parks, community gardens, walking paths, sports courts, etc.

Neighborhood Park Improvements ($$ per park). Update neighborhood parks with enhanced playgrounds, picnic shelters, and more recreation amenities.

Question Title

* Trails & Connectivity Priorities

Wayfinding Program ($). Implement a wayfinding program with directional signs, route signs, mile markings, trail etiquette signs, and user maps.

Fitness and Special Use Trails ($ per mile of trail). Add bike parks, loop fitness, and workout stations to urban parks.

Commuter Connector Trails Network ($$ per mile of trail). Extend and upgrade the off-street paved trail system throughout Missoula.

New Nature Trails ($ per mile of trail). Add new natural surface trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian in preserves and conservation lands.

Trail Maintenance Program ($ per year). Increase maintenance of natural surface and paved trails throughout the park system.

User Amenities ($ per site). Add bicycle racks, secure bike storage lockers, benches, water fountains and other amenities to support biking and walking to parks.

Trailhead Upgrades ($$ per trailhead). Upgrade or add trailheads with restrooms or vault toilets, parking, picnic shelters, and user amenities.

Bike & Pedestrian Access ($$ per mile). Improve on-street bicycle routes and pedestrian paths/sidewalks for better access to parks and conservation lands.

Question Title

* Open Space & Conservation Priorities

Land Protection (Varies by Site). Acquire or protect working lands (farms, forest, ranches, etc.) through conservation easements or other tools and resources.

Conservation Lands Management ($ per year). Manage existing lands for ecological and habitat value.

Urban Habitat ($ per year). Enhance native vegetation outside of the conservation land network to increase ecological connectivity.

River Corridors ($ per mile). Improve river access, preserve habitat, increase maintenance.

Public Access ($ per year). Improve public access where appropriate to conservation lands with trails, trailheads, and user amenities such as vault toilets or parking.

Volunteer Stewardship Program ($ per year). Implement a program that trains volunteers/ interns in natural resource and tree maintenance, and provides organized work days.

Nature Center ($$$). Build a nature & environmental education center with classrooms, indoor rentable event space, and new naturalist programs.

Climate & Resilience (Varies by Project). Implement climate-positive enhancements, such as urban forest canopy reinvestment and maintenance, wetland restoration, sustainable construction strategies, firewise plantings, etc.

Question Title

* Programming Priorities

Environmental Education ($ per year). Develop a program that includes nature (bird and wildlife identification) and climate resilience (low water use gardening, disaster preparedness).

Mobile Programs ($ per year). Implement a mobile recreation van that takes recreation programming out to locations around the city, such as arts, play, or fitness programs.

Volunteer Program ($ per mile). Develop a citywide volunteer program with dedicated staffing that recruits, trains, and deploys volunteers with a variety of interests and time availabilities.

Outdoor Recreation Programs ($ per year). Add outdoor recreation programs, including instructional programs for beginners and equipment libraries.

Fitness, Health & Wellness Programs ($$ per year). Improve and upgrade sports fitness facilities in parks around the city.

Adult & Older Adult Programs ($ per year). Increase programming (classes for dance, music, outdoor education, etc.) for adults of all ages.

Expanded Camp & School's Out Capacity ($ per year). Increase capacity in camp and school’s out programs.

Special Events ($ per year). Add more special events that bring the community together, such as movies and concerts in the park, winter festivals, or cultural events.

Arts & Culture Programs ($ per year). Develop arts and culture programs for all ages, such as dance, theatre, drawing, painting, and photography.