Silver Bow Kiwanis Kiwanis Club Meeting, Mar 25, '14

12:00-1:00 Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Today we were joined by Mike Smith of the Montana Standard as Bill and Sunvee's guest.

Lee let us know about the Kidstock project the Library is working on. They are planning to have a kid appropriate concert and activities in a park this fall, and would like help from Kiwanis Family organizations.

Cathy let us know that the An Ri Ra Irish Festival has been moved to the Orignial this year, and admission will be free. However, that means that they will need to make up for the funding they usually got through ticket sales. She will be contacting local businesses for sponsorships. Their goal is to raise $40,000 before the festival. They are also looking to have the Circle K and Key Clubs help with the children's activities during An Ri Ra.

Keith reminded us of the Key Club meeting this Thursday at noon in the Central High Library and the Circle K meeting this Thursday evening in the Mill Building on campus.

Lee then introduced E. Jay Ellington, the new director of Parks and Recreation for Butte-Silver Bow. Jay is originally from Louisiana and got his Bachelor's of Science in Recreational Administration from Louisiana Tech. He has worked in 6 communities, most recently in Virginia just outside of Washington D.C.

The first thing Jay told us is that Butte is an outdoor recreation person's dream location. We have full year activities and opportunities. Silver Bow County has 4,000 acres of park space to oversee and manage.

They have been working on a parks master plan which covers parks, open spaces, trails, and the greenway. One project he is currently working on are the east side and west side connectors for the trail system. On the east side they want to work out a route from Father Sheehan Park to connect to the trail near the Mountain Con or the Original. On the west side, they want to get the trail at the Chamber Visitors' Center connected to the Greenway off Santa Clause Road or the trail near Tech. In conjunction with this, Chief Executive Matt Vincent has appointed Jay to the Greenway Service District Board to help with the project connecting the trails to Anaconda.

Jay pointed out that trees enhance the community visually, and that they are addign a tree farm in part of the land where the county sod farm currently is. This will allow the county to purchase small trees and grow them in this climate so when they are transplanted into public spaces in the community, they are already acclimated.

Jay also let us know that there will be surveys going up on the new county web site regarding use and needs so that Parks and Recreation can gather information and be responsive to the community.

Jay also challenged each of us to plant a tree with a child some time this year, and to have the child name that tree. Then check back with that child in the future to see how many times the child returns to see how their tree is doing.

Presentation

Jay Ellington, BSB Parks and Recreation

Menu

French Dip and Fries

Attendees

21

Event Updated

6:02 Thursday, March 27, 2014