Gaukler – Missoula’s parks and rec innovator – set to retire
Eliza Carey
(Missoula Current) After nearly five decades in public service and 23 years as Missoula’s Parks and Recreation Director, Donna Gaukler is preparing for retirement this November.
The city's open space, its softball fields, broomball memories and its youth camps can all trace their roots to Gaukler's tenure at the helm of one of the city's biggest and most beloved departments.
She grew up in a small town in North Dakota, where she began working in parks at 14 years old, trimming trees and cleaning restrooms. She said she’s cleaned more bathrooms than one can imagine.
She initially started studying architecture until she stumbled into the parks and recreation program at North Dakota State University, where the classes finally felt easy because she loved what she was doing.
After finishing school, Gaukler realized she was always traveling to places like Red Lodge or the Black Hills just to be in the mountains, and she asked herself, “Why not live and work in the same place I want to play?” So she turned down every other job offer just for a shot at Missoula.
At the time, the department was tiny—one rec professional, a part-time businessperson, a director and a handful of maintenance staff. In 1995, Missoula passed a $5 million Open Space Bond, which allowed them to acquire Mount Jumbo and protect land along the Clark Fork and in the North Hills. They implemented urban foresters, expanded trail systems, and supported adult rec leagues.
But Gaukler wanted to rethink how to serve the whole community. “How can we include those who maybe don’t have the means to start their own teams and clubs?” she said.
When she became the director in 2002, it wasn’t long before her dreaming turned into reality. A few years later in 2006, Parks and Recreation opened Splash Montana and opened Mobash Skatepark with Tony Hawk at the event. “I remember thinking, ‘how can we top this?’”
Although that year was impressive, Gaukler recalls a time when she felt truly proud to be doing this work.
During the pandemic, Parks and Recreation had all shelves removed from the first floor of the new library, transforming it into an indoor space for children. They would limit the amount of people in the space at one time by rotating groups, sending another one out hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. The parks became classrooms and sanctuaries, proving the governor’s demand of how essential these spaces are.
“Seeing our staff remove all those shelves and then all of those kids arriving during the pandemic was a really important moment for our team in recognizing how essential [this work is],” she said.
As Gaukler steps down from her position, she hopes the program continues to prioritize the public's needs.
Gaukler also wants to see the trail system completed. “We’re on the Great American Rail Trail, connecting D.C. to Seattle, and I dream of connecting Glacier to Yellowstone through Missoula. I’m a dreamer,” she said.
She also hinted to a possible indoor recreational facility in the future. “We desperately need an expanded indoor facility for creativity and recreation. People want the access they have in the summer to be year-round.”
Gaukler truly cares about her teammates that have worked with her to make so many of her dreams come to life. “I had a mentor who told me to always hire people who are smarter and better than you. That’s what I tried to do, and I feel so lucky for the people I’ve worked with,” Gaukler said.
As she looks back on her time making Missoula a place to call home, she said she feels most grateful for the community.
“They’ve been there for me, for us, and for each other every day, all day long. I believe we can keep our character, protect our environment, and make it possible for people at all income levels to live here. We can have beauty and access. Growth and preservation. That’s what I hope Missoula keeps striving for.”