The Parks & Rec Department says, with the number of parks they service, they no longer have the staffing needed to maintain the Park. PacifiCorp is willing to continue doing what they do, but no more. That leaves the total responsibility to the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork–a nonprofit organization and the Bigfork Chamber.
This is, apparently, a train that’s been coming down the track for some time. County Parks & Rec Dir. Chris Maestas tells us they’ve been meeting with the Bigfork stakeholders for over a year, working on a smooth hand-off.
We’re told the Foundation provides about $10,000 for the Park, which will now have to make-up the County’s $9,000. That’s a big chunk of change for the Chamber and the Foundation to shoulder. Since the County is opting-out, PacifiCorp will require a $5-million insurance policy.
On the schedule this summer, the Whitewater Festival and the Riverbend Concert Series, which is now in doubt.
The Bigfork community is gathering to find a solution that will keep Sliter Park open.
