Decades in the making: park is recreational relief for Ronan
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
RONAN — The route of Spring Creek is a twisted one. Flowing south through Ronan, it weaves its way under U.S. Highway 93, bursting into open air when it arrives in the beautiful expanse in the middle of town called Bockman City Park.
Four decades ago, the 15 acres surrounding Spring Creek were nothing but a marshy swamp land — not very desirable for development or recreational activities. The old city park was located where the post office now stands.
“The area was pretty much just an open space and didn’t have any particular attractions…” Former City Clerk/Treasurer Carlene Bockman said.
But over the years, the city filled in the marsh land with dirt and created the park’s rudimentary predecessor.
The park as it now stands was not willed into existence. It’s the product of hard work, sweat and tears of city employees and volunteers who worked together to create a free green space that all city residents could enjoy.
With Spring Creek as its flowing centerpiece, the park boasts native gardens, a splash pad, three bridges, a pavilion, modern playground equipment and a bike path, that when finished will connect with the bike path along U.S. Highway 93.
The path in the park was started in 2007 with a $19,054 Safe Routes to School, non-matching grant. Since 2007, the city has received $182,861 in non-matching grants from SRTS. In 2010, the path was completed through the park running from First Street to Benjamin Circle on the southern edge of town.
The city also received monies from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Fish Wildlife and Parks Recreational Trails, Community Transportation Enhancement Programs and the Lower Flathead Valley Community Foundation.
In total, the city has been granted $399,715 from outside organizations building the recreational retreat Ronan residents enjoy today.
But grants don’t write themselves.
Ronan Park and Recreation Director Jennifer Rolfsness is the mastermind behind the grant writing, adding a significant portion to its development over the last decade.
When Rolfsness started working at the park 12 years ago, mowing the lawn in the park was simply a maintenance job. But that nonchalant attitude didn’t last long for the nature enthusiast.
“I quickly realized the potential for this astounding spot in the shadow of one of the most awe-inspiring places I have ever been,” Rolfsness said. “I really wanted this park system to relay the uniqueness and (connectivity) to this area that we all call home.”
So Rolfsness followed in the footsteps of the park’s namesake, Carlene Bockman. Ronan City Clerk for 26 years, Bockman was a community leader and civic organizer who always took great pride in caring for the park.
“It was just a natural fit to adopt Bockman Park as the name to honor a ‘real’ community person who always was proud of her city,” Rolfsness said.
Rolfsness adopted Bockman’s dreams for the park and then set out to obtain the grants necessary to make those dreams a reality.
But over the last decade, the tumultuous road in developing the park has been hindered with various obstacles.
And as Rolfsness explained, there are still threats to the Ronan’s recreation plans, including the possible dissolution of the perpetual conservation easement currently held by the City of Ronan.
The conservation easement granted by Mary Peschel to the City of Ronan includes 11.85 acres of grassy lands south of town. The area is a perpetual conservation area and also serves as a wildlife corridor.
Rolfsness explained that developing entities on either side of the easement have contacted the City of Ronan with the intention of obtaining the land.
“It sickens me to think that we’d join the ranks with a multitude of poor planning communities and put development ahead of conservation efforts in the name of the almighty dollar,” Rolfsness explained.
Protecting the conservation easement from development is imperative in protecting green spaces in the city, she added.
Though threats to the city’s greenspace concern Rolfsness, she’s intent on moving forward with future recreational plans for the park.
Working with the Ronan City Park Board, Rolfsness plans to continue the bike and pedestrian path, connecting the residential areas to the schools, the parks and downtown areas.
She also dreams of creating a park area on the east side of the city and building a large splash deck with water toys.
With a little volunteer cooperation, city workers and a lot of grant money, Rolfsness hopes to achieve these goals.
“What I recognize is no matter where you live, it’s imperative to be able to access parks, open space and recreational activities to enhance our lives,” Rolfsness said.
