Public Asked to Provide Ideas on Recreation Planning for Montana’s Fish Creek State Park
OutdoorHub 01.18.13
Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) announced today it is seeking the public’s input to help guide recreation planning for Fish Creek State Park, located about 35 miles west of Missoula. This public scoping will help identify priorities for the park’s first management plan.
“Fish Creek State Park is a unique location with great potential due to its recreational trail system and close proximity to Alberton Gorge,” said Mike Hathaway, Park Manager.
Recreational activities identified by the public and interested user groups in earlier scoping include year-round hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, motorized use and winter activities. Other opportunities include developed and backcountry camping, fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. Landscape conservation and management is also a priority.
“We want to involve as many people as possible in helping shape this park’s future,” Hathaway said.
Among the questions Montana State Parks is asking:
- What is your vision for Fish Creek State Park?
- What do you value about the Park?
- What recreational uses are important to you?
- What amenities/facilities would you like to see developed?
- What improvements, if any, are desired at the nearby Alberton Gorge, also managed by Montana State Parks?
Fish Creek State Park encompasses 6,200 acres of forested land surrounding Williams Peak in Mineral County, with portions of the Clark Fork and Fish Creek rivers running through it.
The Fish Creek State Park draft management plan is expected to be available for public review later this year.
For more information about Fish Creek State Park, go to http://stateparks.mt.gov/fish-creek/ .
Comments may be emailed through Friday, Feb. 15 to Mike Hathaway, Fish Creek State Park Manager: mhathaway@mt.gov , or mailed to: Montana State Parks, Attn: Fish Creek State Park, 3201 Spurgin Rd., Missoula, MT 59804.
