Possible Recreation Relocation SitesT 6 T L A fib,
Three sites have been identified as possible relocation sites for the airport -area baseball, softball
and soccer fields. Each are identified below, with their respective attributes discussed.
The 620-acre "State land" site, located west of Highway 93 between Four -Mile Drive and
Reserve Drive, has long been identified as a potential relocation site for the Flathead County
fairgrounds complex. It is also a prime location to consolidate and site the community's outdoor
recreation facilities. One -hundred and twenty acres in the southeast corner of the site would
accomodate the community's needs for youth baseball, softball and soccer fields.
The Board of Land Commissioners of the State of Montana ("Board") has the authority to
"direct, control, lease, exchange and sell" school lands such as this which were granted for the
support of education. The Board is authorized to lease the land for other than agricultural,
grazing, cabinsite or mineral production use for up to 40 years. The site is currently classified as
Agricultural land; that classification would have to be amended on at least the needed 120 acres to
accomodate a recreation facility. It is the Board's responsibility to manage state lands under the
the multiple -use management concept defined in 77-1-203 (1), M.C. A., as the management of all
the various resources of the state lands so that:
(a) they are utilized in that combination best meeting the needs of the people and the
beneficiaries of the trust, making the most judicious use of the land for some or all of those
resources or related services over areas large enough to provide sufficient latitude for periodic
adjustments in use to conform to changing needs and conditions and realizing that some land may
be used for less than all of the resources, and
(b) harmonious and coordinated management of the various resources, each with the
other, will result without impairment of the productivity of the land, with consideration being
given to the relative values of the various resources.
The site has numerous positive attributes, including location, accessibility, proximity to municipal
services and utilities, suitable soils and topography, and low acquisition costs. Its location west of
Flathead Valley Community College and immediately adjacent to U.S. Highway 93, which is
scheduled to be widened and reconstructed in 1996, is of particular significance. Highway 93 will
be five lanes (four travel lanes with a center turn lane) upon reconstruction which will provide
excellent access to the site. Furthermore, both the Four -Mile Drive/93 and the Reserve Drive/93
intersections are signalized and will have right -turn lanes constructed. Improved non -motorized
(pedestrian,bicycle) infrastructure is included in the highway reconstruction plans as well.
Locating the outdoor recreation complex at this location will also be well complemented by the
FVCC campus. The City of Kalispell, in a cooperative effort with the college and the Kalispell
Tennis Association, has recently constructed an eight -court outdoor tennis facility on the FVCC
campus. Additionally, the college is expanding its athletic department, recently adding both men's
and women's soccer teams.
Abutting the city limits of Kalispell, the site can be easily and economically served by all city
utilities. Water is now available at the intersection of Highway 93 and Four -Mile Drive, and this
year's city budget includes funds to extend sanitary sewer to Reserve Drive. There is also an on -
site water well for which the State has water rights for irrigation. A study done for the city by
Thomas, Dean and Hopkins in August of 1994 rates the water quality of the artesian aquifer as
excellent and indicates that the well has a good production history.
The topography of the southeast corner of the site is flat to gently rolling, and lends itself well to
the intended use. The irregular topography would promote creative site design, allowing effective
separation of uses on -site. The soils, though not tested, appear to be suitable, as the site has been
productively farmed since at least 1910. There are no known environmental constraints on the
property.
The 40-acre Cemetery Road site, located approximately 1/2 mile south of the current city limits
between Airport Road and Highway 93, was purchased by the city in the early 1980's for use as a
sludge injection compost site. With the construction of the city's new wastewater treatment plant
in the early 1990's, the need for this sewage composting site was eliminated. An attempt was
made by the city to lease the site to the Kalispell Pee Wee Baseball Association but, because the
site was originally purchased with a 75% EPA match, the city cannot use the property for
anything other than a sewage injection field until the EPA is reimbursed. The city has the option
of selling the property at fair market value and reimbursing the EPA its $90,000.00 investment, or
keeping title to the property and reimbursing the EPA 75% of the current fair market value of the
property. The property has been appraised at $85,000.00.
In addition to a substantial initial expense for the land (the EPA reimbursement), the Cemetery
Road site has other limitations as well. Foremost is the size of the site, just 40 acres. The
immediate needs of Pee Wee and Babe Ruth baseball could probably be met at this location, but
there would be no surplus land for future expansion, and no accomodations for either girls softball
or youth soccer. The location of the property is also less than ideal. Located south of town, it is
not easily accessible from most of the community, particularly for pedestrians and bicyclists. The
widening and reconstruction of Highway 93 may improve access to the site, but it is still a great
distance from many parts of the community. At this time, the site is not served by either municipal
water or sewer service. The nearest municipal utilities are approximately 1.5 miles from the site
on Kalispell's Airport Road. Bringing sewer and water to the site, or drilling a water well and
providing an on -site septic system, will add substantially to the cost of developing this site.
On the positive side, the site is physically well suited for the intended use. It is relatively flat and
there are no known environmental constraints. An analysis of soils done in 1993 indicated that no
threats to human health existed, and the property's potential use for outdoor sports was not
affected.
A third potential site for the relocation of the ballfields is located in the Evergreen area, south of
Conrad Drive. The Lincoln property, approximately 100 acres in size, is being made available
under certain conditions.
Unknown cost
no sewer
Evergreen water available?
Floodplain
access/location
At this time there is a total of sixteen baseball and soccer fields in the vicinity of the airport. There
are six fields used by the Kalispell Youth Softball Association, three Pee Wee baseball fields, one
Babe Ruth field and six soccer fields. The 1993 Kalispell City Airport Plan calls for the
elimination of the ballfields and the introduction of more appropriate land uses on those parcels
now occupied by the ballfields. Furthermore, the Kalispell City Council has made it clear that they
are committed to replacing the ballfields at another location prior to the disposal or
redevelopment of the ballfield properties. With this in mind, the following cost estimate has been
prepared fora single -site baseball, softball and soccer complex of sufficient size to not only meet
today's needs, but to accomodate future growth of the three sports as well.
The estimate does not include land costs, but it is assumed that a minimum of 120 acres is needed.
It is also assumed that each of the three sports will continue their respective historic growth rates
- 10% annually. There are over 2,600 individuals participating in youth soccer, girls softball, and
Pee Wee and Babe Ruth baseball this year. That number will be in excess of 2,900 next year. The
estimate is based on a need for a total of twenty-two fields - two Babe Ruth, eight Pee Wee, six
softball and six soccer.
General sitework and seeding:
$26,136.00
Irrigation:
$ 9,147.60
Fencing:
$ 8,100.00
Bleachers:
$ 4,000.00
Backstops:
$ 7,000.00
,A
General sitework and seeding:
$76,665.60
Irrigation:
$26, 832.96
Fencing:
$32,400.00
Bleachers:
$16, 000.00
Backstops:
$28,000.00
SUBTOTAL: $179,898.56
::. ,
General sitework and seeding:
$33,976.80
Irrigation:
$11, 891.88
Fencing:
$24, 3 00.00
Bleachers:
$12,000.00
Backstops:
$21,000.00
SUBTOTAL:1
4) SOCCER - 6 FIELDS
General sitework and seeding:
$97,200.00
Irrigation:
$34,020.00
Fencing:
$22, 500.00
Bleachers:
$12, 000.00
Goals and nets (1 pair/field)
$ 9,000.00
Paved parking - 350 spaces: $141,750.00
Other sitework: $ 23,348.16
Utilities: $ 50,000.00
Restroom and concession buildings: $100,000.00
SUBTOTAL:1
TOTAL FOR 22-FIELD COMPLEX: $827,269.00