Big Sky’s community park system grows

On Nov. 28, the Big Sky Community Organization closed on the purchase of the 7.5-acre parcel comprising the Beehive Basin Trailhead and trail.

With an existing 83.5 acres of parkland, BSCO now owns and manages a total of 91 acres of parkland on behalf of the Big Sky community. All parkland owned by BSCO is a restricted asset for the purpose of public use and access. This newest acquisition is the first the BSCO will own in Madison County.

“Growing our community assets of parkland by over 12 percent is a huge accomplishment not just for those of us right now, but also for future generations,” said BSCO Executive Director Ciara Wolfe.

With current growth and development trends, BSCO is focusing their energy and effort on securing both parklands and trail easements that are heavily used and provide critical points of access into our National Forest and connections between existing parks and trails.

“Beehive Basin was a top priority for our organization,” said BSCO Board Chair Al Malinowski. “Following our successful model at Ousel Falls, partnering with the USFS, we plan to improve the trailhead experience at one of our most popular destinations in Big Sky. Thanks to the work of BSCO Board member Tallie Lancey, a broker with Big Sky Sotheby’s, and Suzanne Schreiner, a broker with the Big Sky Real Estate Co., paired with a generous donation from the Hough Foundation, we were able to act swiftly on this opportunity.”

BSCO plans to design trailhead improvements and open space parkland features over the winter months, while making the improvements as early as fall of 2018 after funding is secured through private donations and public grant opportunities.