Lawrence Park trail Plan - needs another approach Public Comment from Carole JorgensenAimee Brunckhorst
From: Carole Jorgensen <cjmoving2ak@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 4:35 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Lawrence Park trail plan --needs another approach
Please consider this my comments for your plan to extend the trails in Lawrence Park.
Maintain the trails you have before you extend more trails.
No paving ... it changes the hydrology of the area and can affect water quality.
Enforce dog on -leash requirements (and clean up). I love dogs, but not free -ranging dogs or uncollected droppings in a
city park.
There are several other city -owned trails and sidewalks that are in severe need of maintenance and replacement. Fix
those before you expand more.
And develop a city-wide/county-wide recreational plan —not a piece meal approach.
Avoid the riparian/wetland areas. They are some of the few urban wetland areas in Kalispell and are the home to many
birds and other wildlife.
Do not cut any native trees from the area —especially cottonwoods. Without flooding, they are unlikely to be replaced,
and are a key feature of the park.
Do remove non-native species such as buckthorn, which is highly invasive, thorny and can expand far beyond the park
into people's yards and replacing native habitat.
"multi -use" needs further definition. The park should best be used as a walking/running area, but is not suitable for
mountain bikes or electric bikes. Bikes and walking trails are not compatible and can be dangerous.
The "homeless" problem needs to be addressed by providing better drug treatment, low cost housing, better
enforcement, not by extending trails or cutting into the few wooded areas of the park.
Thank you for your consideration. Once paved and trees are removed, restoration will be unlikely. Do more trails, but
not in Lawrence Park.
Kalispell needs better CONNECTED bike trails that don't overlap hiking trails and needs better hiking trails, but not at the
expense of removing native vegetation.
Carole Jorgensen
541-941-4241
Kalispell, MT 59901