Urban Parks and Forestry Board Meeting - March 26, 2026

The Bozeman Urban Parks and Forestry Board met on March 26, 2026, to approve the community engagement plan for the Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP), adopt the Bike Fill Community Park master plan, and discuss the board's two-year work plan. The meeting included public comments on non-agenda items and each action item. The board approved the community engagement plan with an amendment to add a fall work session, and approved the Bike Fill Park master plan as submitted. The work plan discussion was tabled to the next meeting.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was amended by unanimous consent to swap action items F1 (work plan) and F3 (community engagement plan) to allow remote participation and better flow.
• Minutes from the February 26, 2026, meeting were approved unanimously (5-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-Agenda Items: Marcia Caveney, speaking for the Bozeman Tree Coalition, expressed concern that the review of the Bike Fill master plan felt rushed and requested a work session instead of a single vote. She stated, "It feels like the train is coming through, and either get on board or get out of the way."
• On the Community Engagement Plan (Item F3): Daniel Cardi (Bozeman resident, Tree Coalition member) requested that the UFMP explicitly include a Heritage Tree Program by name, not just mention heritage trees. Marcia Caveney added that the plan should address how it will guide municipal code development and noted timeline concerns about public engagement in late August overlapping with back-to-school and vacations.
• On the Bike Fill Park Master Plan (Item F2): Multiple speakers addressed the board:
  • Doug McSpadden (Bozeman resident, GVLT supporter, Sacajawea Audubon vice president) recommended screening fences near wetlands and riparian areas to protect birds, and suggested eliminating a bridge to increase trail mileage.
  • Ken Sinai (recently resigned from Audubon board, personal capacity) requested a 100-foot buffer (instead of 50 feet) along Churn Creek, a longer public comment period, and a bird survey. He noted the short 10-day review window.
  • Marcia Caveney (Bozeman Tree Coalition) supported the buffer and screening comments and asked for a bird survey, noting state law prohibits construction in nesting habitat mid-May to mid-July.
  • Angie Kitchwek (Bozeman resident, Tree Coalition co-founder, online) requested more time for public feedback and emphasized the value of a bird survey.
  • Rick Chin, Hal Stanley, and Dan Draper (residents) expressed strong support for the project, citing its recreational benefits and collaboration between the city, GVLT, and volunteer groups.

Discussion Items

• Community Engagement Plan for the UFMP (Item F3): Alex Nordquest (Forestry Division Manager) and consultant team from DJ&A and PlanetGeo presented the draft plan for a 10-year update of the Urban Forest Management Plan. The plan includes four board work sessions, four public meetings, a public survey, a public comment period, and two city commission presentations. The timeline runs through November 2026 for commission adoption. Board members discussed the tight schedule, particularly the late August public meeting and comment period overlapping with school vacations. Mitch Overton (Parks and Recreation Director) confirmed flexibility in the schedule. The board voted to approve the engagement plan with an amendment to add a work session in fall 2026 to review the final draft before commission submission. The amendment passed 5-0.

• Bike Fill Community Park Master Plan (Item F2): Addie Jaden (Park Planning and Development Manager) and Adam Johnson (GVLT Trails Project Manager) presented the master plan for a bike park on city land between Snowfill Dog Park and the solid waste facility. The plan was informed by over 1,000 survey responses, 800 donors, and multiple in-person and virtual open houses. The park features beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails, a rider hub, directional flow trails, and a connection to the Bridger Creek neighborhood via a multi-use path. Environmental protections include a 200-foot setback from Churn Creek, wildlife-friendly fencing, and stream crossings at existing disturbed sites. Board members shared positive feedback from a site tour, noting the appropriateness of trail placements and the reuse of fill material from road improvements. The plan was approved unanimously (5-0).

• Board Work Plan (Item F1): Mitch Overton presented the proposed two-year work plan (2026–2027) organized around the board's five focus areas: Arbor Day program, UFMP updates, Cattail Creek Corridor master plan, implementation of the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails (Pratt) plan (including code amendments), and biannual Sunset Hills Cemetery updates. Public comment from Daniel Cardi requested that heritage tree program development be included explicitly. Several board members expressed desire for more time to review. The discussion was tabled to the April meeting without a vote.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the Community Engagement Plan for the Urban Forest Management Plan with an amendment to add a fall board work session (vote: 5-0).
• Approved the Bike Fill Community Park Master Plan as submitted (vote: 5-0).
• Tabled adoption of the 2026–2027 Urban Parks and Forestry Board Work Plan to the next meeting (April 2026).