Shaping Helena's Parks and Recreation for the Next Decade

Your city is updating its Parks & Recreation Master Plan — a 10-year blueprint to guiding parks, pedestrian pathways, facilities, and green spaces through 2035. Your input shapes the outcome.

Why Now?

Helena's original master plan dates back to 2010 and was updated in 2018. Since then, the community has grown, park and sports fields use has surged, and many facilities have aged. This update will assess what's working, identify gaps, and chart a clear path for investment in the parks system through 2035.

Assess what we have

Inventory and condition review of all 42 parks, 8 miles of urban pathways*, aquatic facilities, and athletic fields.

Understand community needs

Citywide survey, focus groups, and pop-up events to capture community priorities.

Prioritize access

Ensure parks and programs are accessible and distributed across neighborhoods, ages, and abilities.

Set a 10-year action plan

Prioritized capital projects, operational improvements, funding roadmap, and performance metrics.

*Note: Mt. Helena and Mt. Ascension Natural Parks and the trail system therein are addressed through separate planning efforts. This plan will focus on our urban trails/pathways, but their connection to Helena's overall parks system will be considered to ensure a coordinated approach.

Have more questions about the plan? Check out the FAQ section.

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan will progress over four phases: Phase 1 includes an inventory and system assessment; Phase 2 will analyze park and recreation needs to identify gaps and opportunities; Phase 3 will develop action plan including goals, policies, recommendations, etc.; and Phase 4 will include the preparation of the Master Plan document.

How to Participate

This plan is built around community input. Multiple engagement opportunities are designed to be accessible and welcoming to everyone — especially those whose voices are not always represented in planning processes.

Citywide survey

A statistically valid survey will be conducted starting in June through July 25, 2026 to a broad cross-section of Helena households. Take the survey here: https://helenaparksurvey.org/

Focus groups

Small group conversations with community members, leaders, and key organizations will take place in July 2026.

Pop-up events

The project team will attend the Helena Farmers Market on July 18, 2026 to share information about the project, engage in conversations, and gather feedback from the community. Additional pop-up events will take place in the fall of 2026.

Online engagement

Online activities will be available in the fall 2026, so stay tuned!

Consolidated City-County Parks Board & City Commission

The project team will be in attendance and present to both the Consolidated City-County Parks Board and the City Commission at specific milestones of the project. Be sure to check back for when those meetings are happening.

Your Voice Matters

Whether you use parks daily or haven't visited in years, your perspective matters. Watch Helena's social media channels for engagement opportunities as they are announced.