History & News
History/Timeline of the TRAIL RUNS THROUGH IT Project
Spring 2010 This year will be a breakthrough year for TRTI. As soon as the snow is melted we will start moving dirt, and we have ambitious goals for both trail construction and trailhead amenities. We plan on building another four miles of trail, and perhaps more importantly, we will develop two trailheads as official parking areas for trail users. The “main” trailhead will be located off of Lion Mountain Loop Road, just 1.0 mile west of Whitefish. This trailhead will have a vault toilet, a trailhead kiosk with signage and information, and a large parking area. The second “minor” trailhead will be located off of Skyles Lake Lane, 3.5 miles west of town. This trailhead will have a trailhead kiosk and parking for six vehicles. The trail can also be accessed from the north end, off of Beaver Lake Road. Although there is limited signage and extremely limited parking, the trail currently connects to Beaver Lake Road, approximately .75 miles before the public fishing access at Beaver Lake.
Winter 2009/2010 We have worked tirelessly to complete the Land Use Licenses with the DNRC and finalize a TRTI Management/Operations Plan that will guide daily operations of the trail system. In addition, we are currently engaged in a “branding and design” process that will create a logo and a “look and feel” for the TRTI trail system. Creating a positive logo and attractive design for trailheads and trail maps will help us market the trail to the local community and beyond. Although the TRTI project was kick-started by a generous donation, we will need to engage in robust fundraising efforts to implement the vision as it was laid out in the Master Plan. Having cohesive branding and marketing materials will help us convey our vision as we approach donors to support our cause. It’s an exciting time for the Trail Runs Through It.
Summer 2009 Construction of the Trail Runs Through It Project began! with a focus on the Beaver Lake/Skyles portion of the trail starting July 01. Two miles of trail was built from the Skyles Lake Ln parking lot heading east off the Two Bear Rd, up & over what is now known as the ‘CLIFF BAND’, finishing the trail building season by reaching the high point. We had a very productive construction season that engaged many local contractors, the Montana Conservation Corps, and dozens of enthusiastic local volunteers. Another 2.4 miles of trail was built heading west off the Two Bear Rd, finishing along the Beaver Lakes Rd. Although the trail was available for public use, it was difficult to find because it did not connect to any trailheads! Despite the difficulty in finding the trail, word of mouth slowly spread, and by fall many locals were enjoying the trail on a weekly basis.
December 2008
View the GoguenLand Exchange Info.
The City of Whitefish, Flathead Gateway Partners, and Michael Goguen, formalized an agreement approved by the Whitefish City Council on December 1, 2008. The agreement confirms Mr. Goguen’s donation of $3 million to the public-private “Trail Runs Through It” partnership to commence construction of the extensive trail project and to secure permanent conservation of the state lands. The Goguen Land Exchange will be given final consideration at the Land Board meeting on December 15, 2008.
October 2008
A public meeting open house is planned for October 14 to update the community on the progress of the project and to request public comment.
September 2008
The City of Whitefish and Flathead Gateway Partners enter into an extended MOU and the city council appoints a current steering committee consisting of City officials/staff and representatives of Flathead Gateway Partners. The steering committee includes Diane Conradi, Steve Thompson, Karl Cozad and Nancy Woodruff (Nick Palmer is an alternate). Flathead Gateway Partners include Diane Conradi, Steve Thompson, Mike Jopek, Lin Akey, Charlie Abell, and Marshall Friedman.
November 2007 – October 2008
The City enters into a contractual agreement with Bruce Boody Landscape Architect, Inc. for design work through the Design Development phase of the Phase 1A – Skyles/Lion Mountain Subarea project. The design team includes other local subcontractors: Forestoration, Sands Surveying, Inc., Robert Peccia and Associates, Inc., Applied Water Consulting, Calypso Ecological Consulting, LLP, CMG Engineering Inc., and Herrera Environmental Consultants, Inc. Goguen hires Bruce Boody Landscape Architect, Inc. to lead design and provide oversight of construction of the trail connecting to the Skyles segment and extending north to Beaver Lake Road.
July 2007
The City of Whitefish utilizes the $100k Goguen donation and puts out an RFQ for a qualified team to map trail alignment, provide environmental assessments and prep for construction of the first two segments of trail.
March 2007
The Whitefish City Council approves a 10-year land use license agreement with the DNRC. The Land Board voted a unanimous preliminary approval of the proposed Goguen land exchange at their meeting in Helena on Monday, March 19, 2007. Whitefish Mayor Andy Feury, Representative Mike Jopek and Legislator Dan Weinberg testify on behalf of the land exchange at the meeting. The appraisal and environmental analysis process is initiated. The proposed exchange provides access, construction and funding benefits to the “Trail Runs Through It” project such as access to crucial links for the trail through Goguen’s existing private property, providing a $3 million endowment to the City of Whitefish to develop and manage the trail and provide additional construction costs on sections of “Trail Runs Through It.” Goguen pledged the first $100,000 of the endowment to kick start the project.
October 2006 – February 2007
The DNRC continues to meet with the Flathead Gateway Partners and other stakeholders to negotiate preliminary steps for the “Trail Runs Through It” master plan implementation. The DNRC and the City of Whitefish draft a land use license agreement allowing the city to construct and manage the project and provide revenue to the DNRC.
September 2006
With overwhelming support documented at the public meeting, the “Trail Runs Through It” Master Plan and the Goguen Conservation Land Exchange Proposal are considered as informational agenda items at the Land Board meeting on September 18, 2006.
August 2006
A public meeting to review the “Trail Runs Through It” Master Plan and the Goguen Conservation Land Exchange Proposal is held on August 30, 2006 with approximately 120 people in attendance.
July 2006
The “Trail Runs Through It” Planning and Steering committees finalize master plan. Mike Goguen submits a Letter of Interest to the City of Whitefish and the DNRC proposing a Conservation Land Exchange project offering assistance with access, construction and funding of the “Trail Runs Through It.”
May/June 2006
The planning committee conducts a series of field trips to identify recommended trail alignment and railroad crossing options.
April 2006
The “Trail Runs Through It” Submittal Draft is approved by the Whitefish City Council and presented to DNRC. It includes the recommendation that the City of Whitefish manage the trail under the Parks and Recreation Department.
February/March 2006
A public meeting is held and an electronic survey is initiated to collect public input.
The “Trail Runs Through It” Vision Statement and Guiding Principles are drafted by the planning committee are approved by the steering committee.
January 2005 – July 2006
The Planning and Steering committees meet on a regular basis and work in tandem on planning and preparing the steps involved in creating the trail master plan.
December 2005
A project team is selected consisting of Kate McMahon as Trail Project Coordinator, Lisa Jones as Communications Coordinator/Public Outreach, and Jen Molloy as Project Assistant. A planning committee is selected by the steering committee including (16) community members, (2) DNRC representatives, (1) Fish, Wildlife, and Parks representative and (1) Flathead National Forest representative. Planning Committee members are: Doug Adams, Matt Boyer, Kris Caister, Pete Costain, Greg Gunderson, Bobbi Hall/ Laura Munson, Lisa Horowitz, Leslie Hunt, Clifford Kipp, Paul McKenzie, Camisha Sawtelle, Patrick Sullivan, Frank Sweeney, Tyler Tourville, Gayle Weinberg, Dave Landstrom (Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks), Becky Smith-Powell (Flathead National Forest) and Greg Poncin and Brian Manning (Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation).
November 2005
Selection of Steering Committee consisting of Andy Feury (City of Whitefish Mayor), Velvet Phillips-Sullivan (Whitefish City Council Member), Marshall Freidman (FGP Board Member), and Steve Thompson (FGP Board Secretary). Nick Palmer (Whitefish City Council Member) is appointed as an alternate.
October 2005
The City of Whitefish and Flathead Gateway Partners (FGP), a local nonprofit, enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to create a public-private partnership to implement the proposed recreational trail system. The entire process to implement the trail and conservation objectives of the plan, as well as associated trail and conservation objectives on adjacent land ownerships, starts being referred to as the “Trail Runs Through It” project.
September 2005
A Letter of Interest is submitted to the DNRC by the City of Whitefish to initiate the process of creating the recreational trail system recommended in the Neighborhood Plan.
June 2005
Whitefish City Council makes amendment to the existing 2020 Master Plan to include the new land-use Whitefish Neighborhood Plan.
March 2005
Whitefish City/County Planning Board recommends approval of the Whitefish Neighborhood Plan.
November 2004
The Land Board adopts the plan to guide its actions on the trust land surrounding Whitefish and authorized the DNRC to make an application to the local governments for consideration of the Whitefish Neighborhood Plan. The final Neighborhood Plan, among other guidelines, recommends the creation of an area-wide recreational trail system.
October 2003 – November 2004
The Advisory Committee works to develop the Neighborhood Plan with multiple work sessions, phone conferencing meetings and two public meetings to update the public on their progress and to obtain input.
September 2003
The Land Board considers and charters the Whitefish Area Trust Land Advisory Committee comprised of diverse stakeholders, including the DNRC, to draft a neighborhood plan for the 13,000-plus acres of trust lands.
August 2003
Proposal to create a “stakeholders” group is presented to the Land Board.
June 2003
A public meeting and two public workshops are hosted by the DNRC with assistance from Community Development services, a planning firm based in Butte, Montana.
May 2003
DNRC initializes program and identifies issues.
March 1864
The Territorial Act of March 2, 1864, 14 Stat. 426, Section 14, reserved two sections (2 square miles) of lands in every township in the Territory of Montana for the financial support of public schools in the territory or states later formed out of the terri-tory.
News
Nov. 07, 2009 Daily Interlake – Out of the Classroom, onto the Trail; Students pitch in on Whitefish project
Sept. 24, 2009 Whitefish Pilot – Rec Trail Work proceeding on Budget
Dec. 17th, 2008 Missoulian – Land Board OKs Swap
Dec. 16th, 2008 Flathead Beacon – State Approves Whitefish Land Exchange
Dec. 15th, 2008 Land Exchange Approved
Dec. 11th, 2008 Whitefish Pilot – Land Board Hearing
Dec. 7th, 2008 Daily Interlake – Land Exchange – Final Stages
Dec. 4th, 2008 Whitefish Pilot – Land Swap Details
Dec. 4th, 2008 Goguen Exchange Agreement
Nov. 22nd, 2008 Missoulian – At Cross Purposes
Nov. 12th, 2008 Daily Interlake – Countywide Trails Plan
Oct. 17th 2008 Listen to the recent Montana Public Radio piece on the Trail Runs Through It: MTPR MP3
Oct. 9th, 2008 Whitefish Pilot – Open House Slated for Rec. Trail Project
Oct. 9th, 2008 Daily Interlake – First Steps Towards the Trail
Oct. 8th, 2008 CBS KPAX News – Whitefish Trail System Closer to Completion
Oct. 6th, 2008 Flathead Beacon – Whitefish Trails Move Forward
Oct. 2008 Public Meeting Announcement
Feb. 2006 Daily Interlake – Trail Plan Takes First Step Forward
Feb. 2006 Community Invited to TRTI Public Meeting
Dec. 2005 Missoulian – Circle Unbroken
Dec. 2005 Planning Committee Selection
Oct. 2005 Request for Volunteers to Serve on the Planning Committee
Oct. 2005 RFQ: Trail Project Coordinator