Northside Parks

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Open House on 3/26! Until 4/21, you can still fill out our survey on the draft master plans for the Northside Parks. Your input is greatly appreciated and will help shape the plans for the new park on North Scott Street, Northside Park, and Northside Annex.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Northside and Westside neighborhoods are growing, and so is the need for parks and park amenities that are walkable for residents. The city is actively pursuing land acquisition for a new 5.4-acre park at Scott and Rodgers, which will serve the growing neighborhoods and replace White Pine Park. The neighborhood was in need of additional parkland before the construction of the Villagio (200 units) and Ravara (220 units/Mixed Use). Planning work for the new park is being considered hand-in-hand with planning for the existing parks in the Northside.

EXISTING PARKS IN THE NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD

Existing parks include Northside Park, the Northside Park Annex (also referred to as Northside Ballfield), and White Pine Park. Existing amenities at Northside Park and Northside Park Annex include a softball diamond, basketball court, picnic shelter, playground, currently inoperable splash pad, restrooms, and the Northside Community Gardens (managed by Garden City Harvest). Several of these facilities are in need of near-term replacement.

White Pine Park currently includes a playground, picnic tables, and a soccer field. A portion of White Pine Park is being developed as part of the Scott Street Ravara Development in order to better connect street grids. The remaining ~2.25 acres is encumbered by a large sewer main that limits construction of typical park amenities.

NEW PARK ON NORTH SCOTT STREET

The City intends to replace White Pine Park with a new 5.4-acre park bounded by Scott, Rogers, Otis, and Shakespeare Streets in order to provide a park that is larger, with full amenities, and which is safer for residents to reach. The location for the park was identified in and is intended to align with the adopted North Reserve Scott Street Urban Renewal District (URD) Plans and neighborhood goals for walkability and services. Funding for parcel acquisition is anticipated to be a combination of the 2018 Open Space Bond and tax increment financing through the URD and in partnership with the Missoula Redevelopment Agency. The City has been working with the current landowner, Resurrection Cemetery Association (RCA), for several years and the two parties are working toward a closing date of late December 2024.

RELATED PLANNING DOCUMENTS

North Reserve-Scott Street Urban Renewal District (URD):

• A portion of Northside was included within an Urban Renewal District in 2014 to help support redevelopment of the area, in alignment with the goals of the NRSS URD Plan (and later) the master plan.

• Phased implementation, until the district closes (likely in 2045)

North Reserve-Scott Street Master Plan

• Adopted in 2016
• Conceptual road map to guide development, prioritize URD investments in transportation infrastructure, housing, businesses, and other land uses Guides public and private investment in the urban renewal district

Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails statistically valid survey results