Public Participation Record: Previous PROST Master Plan Public Engagement
To return to the main PROST page, please click here.
The Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails 2040 Plan Overview
Missoula Parks and Recreation is updating the master plan for the greater Missoula Valley’s parks, recreation, open space, and trails. The Master Plan will be a blueprint for the next 15 years of parks, trails, open space, and recreation services to residents.
This new, integrated plan will replace the 2004 Master Parks and Recreation Plan for the Greater Missoula Area. The City and County adopted the Open Space Chapter of the PROST Plan in 2019 will remain as the Open Space Chapter.
Our Engagement Philosophy
Parks and Recreation welcomes community engagement throughout the planning process. We offered engagement opportunities during each project phase, ranging from small focus groups to large community-wide events, surveys, listening sessions, and more.
Description of Engagement Types
Key Informant Interviews: Parks and Recreation staff conducted 13 one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders to identify initial challenges and opportunities.
Artist-led Engagement: Local artists facilitated outreach events targeting historically underserved communities, including Adults 55+, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and Hmong community members.
Targeted Opportunities:
- Focus Groups: University of Montana partners facilitated six themed focus groups with 45 participants.
- Targeted Workshops: The project team met with diverse stakeholders representing government, NGOs, education, recreation, climate, conservation, and equity interests.
Online Community Surveys: Distributed through multiple channels to gather input on PROST system needs, effectiveness, and recommendations.
2024 Missoula Parks and Recreation Survey (BBER Survey): The University of Montana’s Bureaus of Business and Economic Research (BBER) administered a statistically valid/representative survey receiving over 544 responses.
Mobile Listening Sessions: Project team members held 38 sessions at existing events throughout Missoula, gathering feedback from over 900 participants.
Community Open Houses: Parks and Recreation hosted interactive open houses at the Missoula Public Library, attracting more than 400 residents.
Online Interactive Map: Residents submitted 693 categorized comments on specific locations via the Engage Missoula website.
PROST Community Working Group: A 17-member committee selected to represent diverse perspectives with responsibilities including:
- Representing community perspectives and needs
- Guiding plan development
- Identifying gaps and opportunities
- Engaging stakeholders
- Reviewing draft documents
- Recommending plan adoption
Public Participation Opportunities by Phase
Missoula Parks and Recreation Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Documents
-
Master Park Plans
-
May 2004 Final, Master Parks and Recreation Plan for the Greater Missoula Area.PDF (1.15 MB) (PDF)
-
May 2004 Final Master Parks and Recreation Plan for the Greater Missoula Area Maps.PDF (1.52 MB) (PDF)
-
2019-Missoula Urban Area Open Space Plan .pdf (1.72 MB) (pdf)
-
2019 Missoula Urban Area Open Space Plan Appendices.pdf (2.78 MB) (pdf)
-
-
Pictures
-
Four Types of Ecosystem Services.png (133 KB) (png)
-
Public Engagement/Comments
-
Past Events
Who's Listening
-
Phone 4065526681 Email applegater@ci.missoula.mt.us -
Phone 406-552-6267 Email covingtonz@ci.missoula.mt.us -
Phone 406-552-6238 Email ericksonh@ci.missoula.mt.us