OLLI at MSU Friday Forum: Preserving Recreation, Parks and Trails in Gallatin County

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Montana State University will present a talk on “Preserving Recreation, Parks and Trails in Gallatin County” at an October 8 Friday Forum. The event will be delivered online via Zoom from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

People are moving to Gallatin County and Bozeman for the many amenities the area offers, especially recreation opportunities. How can these amenities be preserved?

The Triangle area of Gallatin County, namely the area between Bozeman, Four Corners, and Belgrade, is experiencing change due to significant population growth. Gallatin County, the City of Belgrade, and the City of Bozeman all play a role in the area’s development. In 2016, these three jurisdictions created the Planning Coordination Committee (PCC) to focus on issues and opportunities within the Triangle.

The Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) also plays an important role in the development of this area, emphasizing planning and expanding the trail network. The Triangle Trails Plan was made available for public comment this year and represents an important step forward. Chet Work, executive director of GVLT, will discuss the status of the plan and the next steps. In addition, Work will also discuss trail access through Pete’s Hill. This issue has been in the news, and GVLT is taking the lead in purchasing land to keep the trails intact.

Garrett McAllister, senior planner with Gallatin County, and Addi Jadin, Parks and Recreation Manager for the City of Bozeman, will also participate on the panel to describe local government initiatives to preserve and enhance parks, recreation, and trails.

Participants must register in advance and no later than 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 8. For more information or to register, please visit the OLLI at MSU website at montana.edu/olli/register or call 994-6550. Upon registration confirmation, participants will receive an email with the Zoom link and instructions to join the program.

Friday Forums are offered on the second Friday of each month, September through May, by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at MSU. OLLI at MSU is a program of Academic Technology and Outreach (ATO) at Montana State University. ATO works across MSU to support and advance our land-grant mission through unique and innovative opportunities for outreach and engagement.