recreation

Citing everything from economic opportunity to childhood education, a number of people spoke in favor Wednesday of the proposed public acquisition of Marshall Mountain – a move that will require around $2 million in funding from the open space bond and an estimated $400,000 in annual maintenance costs.

Faced with an increase in usage, the Bureau of Land Management is proposing eliminating camping and adding a day-use fee at the popular Jump Creek Recreation Site located in Owyhee County.

While Missoula County officials remain mum for now, they hinted Tuesday that a grant application through the U.S. Forest Service may have been successful and would, if true, provide a large piece of funding for the Marshall Mountain acquisition.

The option agreement approved on Tuesday sets the purchase price for the 160-acre Izzy Dog parcel at $1.8 million.

With a new parking lot set to open later this month, Missoula County has adopted parking restrictions for a portion of Highway 200 near the Sha Ron river access site.

The pandemic era has driven an influx of visitors and cash. But the agency is short on workers, especially in eastern Washington.

With the acquisition of Marshall Mountain now a stated goal, the city and county will take the necessary steps in determining whether to spend funding from the Open Space bond, and they'll crunch the numbers to detail any long-term maintenance and staffing costs.

Missoula County on Monday joined city officials and private partners in announcing that it would take the lead in securing public ownership of 480 on and around Marshall Mountain.

The city and a team of state and local partners will turn their focus to a stretch of the Clark Fork River in downtown Missoula in a bid to protect infrastructure, restore habitat and add a new recreational feature.

Missoula County on Tuesday approved $50,000 in funding to aid a number of rural projects – including a community garden and skate park – recommended by the Parks and trails Advisory Board.