Infrastructure funds help city complete park projects

A pirate-ship themed playground has dropped anchor at Boettcher Park in Polson, giving kids a place to climb, swing and slide when they aren’t skipping rocks or splashing in Flathead Lake.

Last week. Polson City Commissioners and Park and Recreation staff joined Push and Pull Play Project of the Flathead Reservation board members to take a look at the new play equipment.

According to Ed Meece, Polson city manager, the new playground came about thanks to the 2023 Montana Legislature’s House Bill 355, called the State-Local Infrastructure Partnership Program, and the Push and Play Project of the Flathead Reservation.

The Legislature appropriated $265 million from the general fund to the Department of Commerce to distribute to Montana counties. The counties then could grant project funds for eligible projects. The bill stipulated that funds needed to be used on maintenance projects on existing facilities, Meece said.

Since Boettcher Park’s playground needed some work, Meece said the city commissioners decided to redo the playground, removing the equipment, wood chips and the mat.

The state allocation paid for 75 percent of the refurbishment, and the Push and Play Project of the Flathead Reservation helped out with the remaining 25 percent.

The city also has used the funds to replace decking on the docks at Riverside Park and Boettcher Park and to build a new retaining wall at Travis Dolphin Dog Park.

Now kids, swimmers, and pups at Polson parks can enjoy summer even more.