Get EXCITED! The Wild and Scenic Film Festival will be here in two weeks. Mark your calendars for February 12th and 13th for two nights of great films. See you at the STC Great Room on the University of Montana Western Campus.
MFWCT Grant furthers Dillon High Trails Land Aquisition
BTC is excited to announce that we have been awarded $100,000 from the Montana Fish & Wildlife Conservation Trust (MFWCT). We are currently working on finalizing the terms and requirements with the granting agency. All funds are dedicated to acquiring land for the Dillon High Trails project. Because of this and other generous grants and donations we hope to close on the purchase of Phase I of the High Trails later this fall. Acquiring this first phase will allow us to complete work on the 475 acre parcel in order to prepare for opening public recreational use. No longer will the trail end at the current town overlook, but folks will soon be able to continue their walk or ride up the ridge. Thanks to all those that helped in this effort and especially to the MFWCT for their support of us and the people of Dillon and Beaverhead County!
Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to be involved in this continuing effort to open public space near Dillon.
MFWCT Grant Letters Needed
As some of you may know BTC has applied for a grant through the Montana Fish & Wildlife Conservation Trust to further the High Trails Project. Receiving this grant would be a HUGE step to say the least toward acquiring this land and opening it for public use, possibly even this year. Tomorrow, June 20th is the final day for you to send your recommendation letters. As a final nudge, we encourage you to write in as to what this project may mean for you and the community of Dillon. So on a beautiful Friday evening, take a stroll up the hill and when you get back please share your thoughts at fwctrust@mtwf.org.
New Bench on Overlook Trail
Last Saturday, June 6th was National Trails Day. To help commemorate the event members of the Three Rivers Backcountry Horsemen and BTC led a volunteer day to install a bench at the top of the Dillon Town Overlook Trail. Once this group and their stock transported the bench to the top of the ridge they installed it in a concrete base. Funds to purchase the bench were provided by the United Way of Beaverhead County.
Thanks to all whom have participated in this endeavor with special shout-out to Dan Pence for his work in getting this completed!
A handful of the volunteers from the Three Rivers Backcountry Horseman Chapter and Beaverhead Trails Coalition that helped install a new bench on the Dillon Overlook Trail. June 6, 2015.
Dillon Community Plan
Many of you know that long term Community Plans, known as Growth Policies in Montana, are required for cities and counties. These plans document communities’ current status and recommendations to the governing bodies for future development.
Dillon's Planning Board is currently working with Sanderson Stewart to update the City's plan to reflect changes since the last revision in 2009.
Public involvement is an important part of the update process and the first opportunity is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, June 2 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Depot, south of the Museum.
Attendees can expect an informal "drop-in" event with various opportunities to learn about the planning process and provide input to the team. Spend as little or as much time as desired. There will also be food and door prizes.
Looking ahead, the second public meeting is set tentatively for July 28th, also 4-7 p.m. at the Depot. Maps and other information will be available and input regarding goals will be solicited.
The public is also welcome at the regular Planning Board meetings which will be focused on the Plan for the next few weeks. As of now, meetings are scheduled for every-other Tuesday: 5/26, 6/9, 6/23, 7/7, and 7/21. All meetings are at 7:00 at the City Council Chambers on Idaho Street.
Finally, information, survey forms, etc. are available at the City of Dillon offices. The 2009 growth policy is available on the web here:
http://www.dillonmt.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Growth-Policy-FINAL-033109.pdf
and project updates, draft documents, etc. will be available here:
http://sandersonstewart.com/projects/dillon/ .
Subscribe for email updates to the site. (note: currently under construction)
Speak up and share your ideas to help our community to become a better place!
Pint Night Success
Thanks to all of those that supported Beaverhead Trails Coalition last week at our Beaverhead Brewing Co. Pint Night. Whether you bought or donated an item for the silent auction, became a member, or just came out to hear some great music we certainly appreciate it. In total over $4,000 dollars were raised and will be directly used in supporting pedestrian travel and recreation programs here in Dillon! See you on the trail...
BTC Pint Night TONIGHT!
The bar is open and the beer is cold, come on down to Beaverhead Brewing Company and support BTC. $1 from each drink will be donated towards BTC projects. Bidding on silent auction items begins at 5 PM and music will start around 6 PM.
See you on the trail, er, I mean brewery!
BTC Pint Night
I met 'em on the trail: Pete and Laura Wakeman
A lot of content that you may see at our BTC website is obviously focused on trails, recreational programs, and events around town. However, we'd like to stop every now and again to speak to the folks both involved with the organization as well as people who utilize these resources. Thanks to Pete and Laura for sharing about their time in Dillon and for a wonderful evening walk. If you would like to share your story please contact us, we'd love to hear from you.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in Dillon
We’ve lived in Dillon over 30 years, more than half our life – we are both in our sixties. We moved here originally from Great Falls right after we sold our bakery there, the Great Harvest Bread Company. We were the original founders of Great Harvest, which is a national franchise now, with the franchising offices still based in Dillon. We sold the company in 2001, and are no longer involved except as friends.
How do you recreate around town and Beaverhead County?
We hike, cross-country ski, and camp. We get out for at least a short walk or hike almost every day. For longer trips we used to love backpacking, but now we’ve simplified down to a truck camper on a good pickup, and we mostly dayhike.
Why are trails and open space important to you?
That’s the whole reason we live here. That, and our friends of course, who all of them outdoorsy like us.
Why did you become a member of BTC?
The BTC has lots of worthwhile projects, but we care especially about the High Trails effort – helping to raise money to buy the Town Hills trail system right behind town. It’s privately owned now, but deserves to be developed into a community hiking area similar to what they have in Bozeman, Helena or Missoula.
How do you envision trails and recreational opportunities changing in Dillon in the future?
(Pete): We’ve lived here a long time, and I’ve never seen the enthusiasm around a community trail system that there is right now. It’s hard to imagine the momentum won’t pick up and get even stronger, over time. The hiking is already wonderful in the mountains out around Dillon, obviously. But super close to town, for everyday walks by residents and visitors, just getting some exercise, taking the dog out, we need legal access, maps, signage, trail work – we need to make it easy for people. There isn’t much public land close to town, so this is going to take work. There’s no shortage of good projects! I really believe though that 10 years from now, Dillon will have a community trail system that’s the envy of any town its size. It’s fun to be working with the BTC, there’s a great spirit going on right now.
Open Floor-Anything at all that you'd like to share?
We literally drive over to the little parking lot, park by the trailhead sign, and hike up the Town Overlook trail 3-4 times/week, year-round, any weather. It’s the only place that close to town for a good, short, steep everyday hike to a beautiful view. That little trail system is very important to us, just personally.
2nd Annual 5K
Thanks to all who participated in our 2nd Annual 5K Run/Walk earlier this month. We are glad to have all of your support. Also, much appreciation to the UMW Athletics Department and all of those who volunteered their morning performing spring trail maintenance.
