New Playground-Memorial Rose Garden Park

Project DescriptionDesign Day Flyer Missoula jpg Opens in new window

On June 24, 2019, the Missoula City Council approved an agreement between KaBOOM!, a non-profit playground advocacy organization and the City of Missoula to replace the aging, outdated playground equipment at Memorial Rose Garden Park, 800 Brooks St. The new equipment will increase the playground’s capacity, play value and accessibility. 

The project is a result of a “Build it with KaBOOM!” grant that pairs a funding partner, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT), with the Missoula community to build a new playground. KaBOOM! provides the funding and project management and utilizes the community-build model to design and build the playground.

Social equity was a major factor in selecting a playground location for the KaBOOM! grant. The Rose Park Neighborhood is located in Ward 3 of Missoula. Approximately 21 percent of neighborhood residents live below the poverty line. Providing a new playground within walking distance for residents will be especially impactful on the lives of low-to-moderate-income children.

This playground is part of a broader effort led by BCBSMT and KaBOOM! to meet an urgent need to make play the easy choice for kids and families. It will be the sixth build led by BCBSMT.

Project Benefits

The opportunity to partner with KaBOOM! to build a new playground that provides an increase in play value and capacity is a great benefit to the Rose Park Neighborhood and Missoula.

In 2015, Missoula Parks & Recreation conducted a system-wide playground inventory and analysis and identified Memorial Rose Garden Park playground as in need of updating or replacement. The playground contains outdated equipment that does not meet current ADA standards. The current playground does not provide for the eight types of play identified by the National Institute For Play.

The new playground will have a significant increase in play value, and an approximately 67 percent increase in capacity. In addition to the new play features, ADA access will be provided to the playground and a new picnic area will be installed adjacent to the play space. Benches and tables will be constructed as part of the volunteer project, and are funded by the KaBOOM! grant.

Opportunities For Public Participation

The playground project will be community driven and volunteer constructed.

Design Day – July 8, 2019 • St. Anthony Parish, 217 Tremont St., Missoula

Design Day is the first meeting that brings the community together to plan all aspects of the playground build project and to factor in ideas from the kids who will benefit from the new playspace.

The Children’s Design Session from 3 to 4 p.m. is a chance for local kids to draw their dream playground as inspiration for the final playground design. Parents/caregivers should plan to accompany children under age 9.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., adult community members will use the children’s ideas to help choose specific playground equipment options and develop a layout of the playground that will be installed at a Community Build Day.

Community Build Day:            August 17, 2019

200 volunteers are needed. Watch this site for sign-up information, coming soon.

Time Frame

Project design and site prep: July 1 – August 16

Build Day: Saturday, August 17

Project Costs and Funding

The total project cost is estimated at $125,000, with about 80 percent funded by BCBSMT.  The remaining $25,000 will be funded by the City’s capital improvement program and park impact fees from development.

The City’s contribution includes an $8,500 match for equipment purchase and approximately $16,000 for necessary on-site infrastructure upgrades. No increase in maintenance costs are anticipated.

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