Citywide Park District
In 2011, City Council created a City-wide Park District as a way to help fund deferred park maintenance to our infrastructure and improve our ongoing park maintenance in the future. The park district generates approximately $1.9 million annually. Our top needs were identified through a city-wide statistically valid citizen survey, discussions with major park user groups (Billings Little League, Amend Park Development Council, Billings Softball Association, and Billings Tennis Association), the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Board and the Billings Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Department staff. According to our Department’s 2017 Comprehensive Plan, we will have to replace approximate $22,542,500 worth of park amenities over the next 10 years to maintain current level of services. The fund is also used to leverage additional funding (matching funds) in the form of grants and donations for capital projects.
Over the past years we have been able to leverage an additional $860,000 (grants and donations) for capital projects:
- Hawthorne Park playground equipment replacement $125,000
- Rose Park playground equipment replacement $150,000
- South Park playground equipment replacement $75,000
- Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive Site $510,000
2019 Deferred Maintenance Projects & Upcoming Projects
Hawthorne Park Shade Structure ($70,000) – Completed
Replace Primrose Park Playground Equipment ($215,000) – Completed
Replace 4 Tennis Courts at Central Park ($500,000) – Awaiting notification of Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant Application
Replace Rose Park Playground Equipment ($270,000)
2018 Deferred Maintenance Projects
Replaced the Operation/Bathhouse Building at Rose Park Pool after Arson ($1,900,000)
Before
After
Replaced Wading Pool at South Park with a Sprayground ($1,100,000)
Before
After
Replaced Hawthorne Park Playground Equipment ($170,000)
2017 Deferred Maintenance Projects
Replaced a 50+ year old irrigation system with an automated system at Veterans Park ($380,000)
2015 Deferred Maintenance Projects
South Park playground equipment replacement ($260,000)
Pioneer Park playground equipment replacement ($280,000)
Castle Rock tennis courts rebuild ($400,000)
Castle Rock Tennis Courts Before
Castle Rock Tennis Courts After
Rebuild 3 tennis courts at Pioneer Park ($300,000)
2014 Deferred Maintenance Projects
Replace batting cage equipment at Stewart Park($50,000)
Upgrade safety surfaces under 22 public playgrounds ($420,000)
| Arrowhead Park | Boulder Park | Burg Park |
| Comanche Park | Edgerton Park | Evergreen Park |
| Gorham Park | Hawthorne Park | Highland Park |
| Lillis Park | Millice Park | North Park |
| Optimist Park | Pioneer Park | Ponderosa Park |
| Primrose Park | Rose Park | Sacajawea Park |
| Stewart Park | Terry Park | Veterans Park |
| Westwood Park |
2013 Deferred Maintenance Projects
Replaced Waterslides at Rose Pool ($420,000)
Remodel 6 park restrooms ($510,000)
Stewart Park Remodel
North Park Remodel
Veterans Park Remodel
- Optimist Park
- Pioneer Park
- Gorham Park