Story Mill Community Park: The Soul of the City
Bozeman, Montana is a beautiful city surrounded by the Bridger Mountain Range. In the summer of 2019, a new park called Story Mill Park was established. It is located next to a historic wheat mill and boasts over 60 acres of preserved wetland and numerous amenities, making it the largest park in the heart of the city. Originally, the land was proposed as a mixed-use development, but plans fell through. Following the foreclosure, The Trust for Public Land stepped in and started working with the community to develop a park concept. Design Workshop and Design 5, a local firm, facilitated the development of this park through conceptual work, public engagement, and construction documentation, with a budget of $6.5 million.
The park includes passive recreation and education, and is characterized by the surrounding mountains and river that trickle through. The land has a rich agricultural heritage, with cattle and wheat being the main focus. The park consists of 40 acres of nature preserve, which incorporates wetlands, forests, and the restoration of part of the East Gallatin River. The remaining 20 acres of the site have integrated historic rail corridors and a farmstead, which have been transformed into a playground and winding paths that connect throughout the site, with interpretive signage and locally-made sculptures. Furthermore, a community center has been added to the park, which includes winter features for year-round educational opportunities and public engagement.
Additional Sustainable Features Include:
399 preserved trees and 613 newly planted trees of native species
3 miles of trails that connect to the “M” trail, owned by the U.S. Forest Service
All abilities and ages play areas, a bicycle pump track, ping pong tables, and a custom climbing boulder
Over half an acre of a learning garden and food forest that donates to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank
4 strategically placed pavilions for rest and gatherings
Locally made sculptures throughout the trails, including a labyrinth
Birding opportunities with a custom-designed bird blind structure
Fishing access points
21 custom informational signs with information about native species of flora and fauna
Sources: VanWieren, Rebekah, and Nina Barfoot. “Story Mill Community Park.” Landscape Performance Series. Landscape Architecture Foundation, 2023. https://doi.org/10.31353/cs1990
