Parks and Trails Bond Playground Project

Greenough Park new playground

Greenough complete playground

Parks and Trails Bond Construction photos 

Operation Playground Build

Thanks to the voter-approved 2014 Parks and Trails Bond, Missoula is now home to 11 new or improved playgrounds. The $1 million project, completed in 2016, included playground improvements for Bonner, Franklin, Greenough, McLeod, Northside, Pleasant View, Rainbow, Skyview, Wapikia, and Whitaker parks, plus phase two development of Silver Summit playground in McCormick Park.

The sites for Operation Playground Build were selected to ensure geographic disbursement throughout the city. "A priority goal for our community is to have a playground within 10 to 12 minutes walking distance from every child, says Parks and Recreation Director Donna Gaukler. Playgrounds provide one of the best opportunities for children to interact in creative self-directed, outdoor, active play—which is essential for healthy child development."

Playground sites were also based on existing playground equipment, ADA access and neighborhood demographics.

Each playground design includes unique play features. "The goal is to have each playground different from the others and to select play equipment that meet the needs of the children living in each neighborhood. It's been fun to see how the designers have integrated each park's unique character into the design," Gaukler said.

All of the playgrounds are ADA-accessible and contain play features for all abilities. Additionally, at least one of the playgrounds at the new Fort Missoula Regional Park will include "wheelchair-friendly" surfacing, similar to Silver Summit Playground in McCormick Park.

More information

February 2016
Playground Equipment Package
Approved By City Council

Proposed playground equipment by park - Check out the conceptual design pages—just select any photo for a link to more information about each piece of equipment!

On Monday, February 22, the City Council approved 8 contracts with playground equipment vendors and installation specialists totaling $1,023,214.95. This represents over 130 individual pieces of playground equipment, plus installation and fall zone material, for 12 playgrounds. The playgrounds include Bonner, Franklin, Greenough, McLeod, Northside, Pleasant View, Rainbow, Skyview, Wapikia and Whitaker Parks, plus two of the four new playgrounds that planned for Fort Missoula Regional Park. Read the press release.

Equipment for the ten neighborhood playgrounds will be ordered immediately and installation will begin as soon as the weather allows for construction. Playgrounds are projected to open this summer. The new FMRP playgrounds will open when phase one construction is complete at the Fort.

The department hosted a public open house in June and circulated public comment questionnaires to help the department choose the play equipment for each new playground. The design team has implemented many of the ideas and suggestions generated by citizens, neighborhood leadership teams, and City Council representatives.

Feb. 2016 Complete Playground equipment list with links (PDF)

Sign up to win!

Sign up to get occasional updates on Parks programs, projects and special events...new subscribers are entered into a monthly drawing for fun prizes!