$100,000 FWP Grant to Missoula's Rattlesnake Reservoir Park

With help from a generous grant, the Rattlesnake Reservoir Park Preserve in Missoula is enjoying expanded safe, accessible recreation.

PROGRAM STEPS UP WITH $100,000 GRANT

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tells us that with help from their Recreational Trail Program, Rattlesnake Reservoir Park Preserve has 16 new parking spaces, including two van-accessible ADA spaces, over 1 mile of a new loop trail and a series of interpretative panels that highlight the unique history of the preserve.

WHY THE GRANT WAS SO BENEFICIAL

The City of Missoula acquired the 45-acre preserve along Rattlesnake Creek in 2017. The area was a former industrial water utility site. In its previous condition, a trail access point on the Duncan Drive right-of-way frequently blocked an emergency vehicle turnaround and damaged adjacent vegetation from off-street parking. Trail users received parking citations for parking in “no parking” areas. And, at the start of the trail that connects to the Rattlesnake Greenway, there was no signage with information about access, distances or trail conditions.

In 2024, the City of Missoula Parks and Recreation Department applied for the RTP grant. With $100,000 in grant money, the department was able to construct the new parking area and a formal trailhead that provides improved accommodation for the high use in the park. The new construction adds potential for opportunities for a wider range of trail users.

The new 1-mile adaptive trail was designed and constructed to accommodate a range of ages and abilities, including the use of wheelchairs and strollers. There is also a new informational kiosk that provides educational opportunities for learning about the cultural history of Rattlesnake Creek.

Trail users will be able to access the old Rattlesnake Dam Restoration site at the north end of the loop, with creek access points along the way.

FUNDS BEING PUT TO GOOD USE

In the Montana FWP press release, Stephanie Clemen, Recreational Trail Program manager, was quoted as saying, “One of the goals of the Recreational Trail Program is to expand safe, accessible recreation, and this project delivers exactly that. It’s rewarding to see these improvements opening the preserve to more people.”