FAQs

It's a community-driven strategic plan that will guide how Helena invests in, manages, and expands its parks, urban pathways, facilities, and recreation programs over the next 10 years. It sets goals, priorities, and a funding roadmap.

The current plan was adopted in 2010 and is now more than 15 years old. The community has grown, needs have changed, and many facilities require attention. It's time to create a fresh, forward-looking plan.

Open lands and trail systems outside parks are addressed through separate planning efforts. However, this plan will consider how those connect to Helena's overall parks system to ensure a coordinated approach.

There will be multiple ways to participate — including an online survey, public workshops, pop-up events in your neighborhood, and focus group interviews. Watch this page and Helena's social media channels for announcements.

All community input will be documented and summarized in public reports. The engagement findings directly inform the goals, priorities, and recommendations in the final plan — which is then presented to the Parks Board and City Commission for adoption.

The plan will include a 10-year implementation roadmap with prioritized projects, budget estimates, funding recommendations, and potential funding mechanisms — but actual budget appropriations are made through the City's separate annual budget process.

The project is expected to take no more than 15 months from the February 2025 start date — targeting a completed, adopted plan by Spring 2027.

The City of Helena Parks, Recreation and Open Lands Department is overseeing the process, led by Director Doug Smith, in partnership with MIG, Sanbell, and ETC Institute.